Events

Thursday, April 23rd through Saturday, April 25th

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We're thrilled to begin our Oregon Folklife Residency, funded by the James and Marion Miller Foundation, with Sara Barton demonstrating Basketmaking and Rabbit Nets. Sara Barton is a traditional Basketmaker who hails from a long line of Basketmakers. Though her own ancestry is a mix of Mono Lake Paiute and Yosemite Miwuk, she now assists the Burns Paiute in keeping their traditions. She will be in the Wagon Box Theater all day with special presentations throughout the day on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Sara will be demonstrating Rabbit Nets in addition to Basketmaking. Sara recently worked with the Curator of Churchill County Museum in Fallon Nevada who allowed Sara to look at a historic Rabbit Net in their collection. She created a new technique for creating this historically important tool and is engaging new tribal members in the history and construction of Rabbit Nets, ensuring this Burns Paiute tradition is not lost. 

Thursday, May 7th through Saturday, May 9th

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Our Oregon Folklife Residency continues with Kathy Moss from Prairie City, Oregon. A passionate speaker and storyteller, Kathy brings her rich life experiences with Western heritage and culture to her cowboy poetry performances. Moss’ background in night calving, colt-starting, and commitment to ranch work has shaped her identity as a Western woman. Her dedication to writing about her experiences with horses has given life to her poetry, novels, and blogs, reflecting the integrity of Western living.

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Find Kathy in the Wagon Box Theater for performances throughout the day on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Saturday, June 13th, 10am to 4pm

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Join us in Geiser-Pollman Park as we circle the wagons and celebrate our history! Carter Junction will play music throughout the event, Karen Haas tells excellent stories of life on the trail and we'll be dressed in our pioneer finery all day. Hansen Wheel and Wagon Shop is travelling all the way from South Dakota and will have a wheelwright demonstration. Crossroads will bring activities for all ages for a festive day in the park! Stay tuned as we announce additional parnters and activities.

Thursday, June 18th through Saturday, June 20th

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H’Klumaiyat-Roberta Kirk (Warm Springs) is a traditional regalia maker and food gatherer who does traditional Wasq’u and Tenino bead and dentalium work. She makes Plateau shell dresses as well as moccasins. She is a designated food gatherer for the Simnasho Longhouse in Warm Springs, runs sweats, serves as Archives and Museum Collections Manager for the Museum at Warm Springs, and has consulted for museums on Native American artifacts.

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Roberta will be demonstarting and speaking about her craft and traditions as a part of our Oregon Folklife Residency in the Wagon Box Theater. 

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Thursday,  July 9th through Saturday, July 11th

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Cheryl Newhouse spins, knits and weaves in Richland, Oregon. Using mostly Eastern Oregon fiber she works with Corriedale Merino Wool from sheep, Kid Mohair from Angora goats, and Angora Wool from Angora rabbits. She also incorporates bamboo and baby camel. She hand dyes her fiber and then knits and weaves into hats, shawls, socks and more. 

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Cheryl will be demonstrating all day Thursday, Friday and Saturday with special presentations throughout the day. She will have hands on activities for all ages to try including a functioning 1800's spinning wheel. 

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Thursday, August 13th through Saturday, August 16th

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Mildred Quaempts is master in Umatilla dentalium piecework and joins us as a part of our Oregon Folklife Residency in the Wagon Box Theater. A member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, she carries on the tradition in her tribe, recently completing a wedding veil and cape. "I first observed and helped use dentaliums with my grandma, Annie Joe, better known as 'Tquannanmy' when she was applying them on medallions or on dresses. I was 9 years old. I used to travel with her to Indian wedding trades and saw other young girls wearing hairpieces made from dentalium. I love looking at old photos of individuals using dentalium." Mildred uses smoked hide or white hide, old beads, cowrie shells, and two-inch dentalium shells to decorate dresses, hair pieces and unique wedding veils for brides. She is also a Umatilla language speaker. She will be in the Wagon Box Theater all day with special presentations throughout the day on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

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Thursday, September 24th through Saturday, September 26th

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Clair Kehrberg is a master leatherworker, gear maker, and saddle maker in John Day. She will be demonstrating her craft in the Wagon Box Theater as a part of our Oregon Folklife Residency all day on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with special presentations throughout the day.  She grew up in eastern Oregon’s ranch country and continues to ranch with her husband in John Day. Kehrberg is well-known for her intricate leather work and brings her skills to chinks and chaps as well as to elegantly hand-tooled leather briefcases, handbags, earrings, and more. Clair, an experienced teacher, is extremely articulate about her craft, how she learned, from whom she learned, and the intricacies of leatherwork.

Thursday, October 15th through Saturday, October 17th

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We welcome Katie Harris Murphy and Mary Harris from Pendleton to the Wagon Box Theater for three days of demonstrations in traditional beadwork, sewing and embriodery. Members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation the sisters are Nimiipuu, Cayuse, Umatilla & Karuk. They create traditional Regalia to preserve their tribal heritage. Come learn the historical and ceremonial significance of traditional dresses while observing the expert craftsmanship preserved by these culture keepers. In addition to demonstrating, Katie and Mary will offer special presentations three times a day.

Check back soon for more great events that educate, engage and celebrate our history at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. We have big plans for 2026 and hope you'll join us for some quality time on the Oregon Trail.