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Visitors to the George Washington Carver National Monument will have the opportunity to see what it was like for young Carver to live on the prairie during the annual Prairie Day event Saturday.
“The Prairie Day event is an annual special event held in conjunction with Diamond Gem City Days,” GWC National Monument Park Ranger Diane Eilenstein said. “It celebrates life on the prairie during George (Washington Carver)’s childhood years, so we are looking at the 1860s and 1870s.”
The fun-filled event — set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday — is free of charge, except for the concession stand items.
“One of the highlights is our wagon rides,” she said. “We will be taking visitors across the prairie on horse drawn wagon and we will have story tellers on the wagon telling the Carver story, talking about the prairie and doing some Ozark folk tales and stuff like that.”
Other highlights include hands-on demonstrations and music, to name a few.
“We are going to have a wonderful day down at the 1881 Moses Carver house. We will be dipping candles, washing clothes on a wash board, Cheryl Franklin will be here making lye soap for us,” Eilenstein said. “We are going to be crocheting, making rag rugs, we have someone bringing a small loom, weaving, wool spinners, making butter, we will have our chuck wagon on display again this year. We will be doing Dutch oven cooking, shucking corn, and we will be turning some of that into cornmeal. Some of our musicians, who will be playing under the big tent in the morning, will be coming down (to the Moses Carver house) and having a jam session in the yard. That is all going on at the Carver house, it is a big day there.”
Eilenstein stated for those who will be dipping candles, they will be able to take them home.
There will also be a quilting bee going on at the monument. There will be events also going on inside the visitor’s center and at the Carver Family Cemetery, visitors may explore the hidden meanings of epitaphs and engravings.
Edible and medicinal plants found on the prairie will be displayed and prairie walks will be conducted. Near the pond, basket weavers will create works of art, and exhibits will show woodland and prairie animals and birds. Kid-friendly activities include painting with natural dyes, old-fashioned toys and games, and a special Junior Ranger badge. An exhibit near the site of the slave cabin will show Civil War medicine, and the role of archeology will be explored. Tri State Carvers Guild will demonstrate wood carving techniques, the Missouri Department of Conservation will discuss the benefit of prescription fire on the prairie, and the Neosho Fish Hatchery will present interactive exhibits.
The park visitor center will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and concessions will be offered by the Carver Birthplace Association.
The monument is located two miles west of Diamond on Route V, then a half mile south on Carver Road.
For more information, please call the park at 325-4151 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or visit the park website: www.nps.gov/gwca.
Visitors to the George Washington Carver National Monument will have the opportunity to see what it was like for young Carver to live on the prairie during the annual Prairie Day event Saturday.
“The Prairie Day event is an annual special event held in conjunction with Diamond Gem City Days,” GWC National Monument Park Ranger Diane Eilenstein said. “It celebrates life on the prairie during George (Washington Carver)’s childhood years, so we are looking at the 1860s and 1870s.”
The fun-filled event — set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday — is free of charge, except for the concession stand items.
“One of the highlights is our wagon rides,” she said. “We will be taking visitors across the prairie on horse drawn wagon and we will have story tellers on the wagon telling the Carver story, talking about the prairie and doing some Ozark folk tales and stuff like that.”
Other highlights include hands-on demonstrations and music, to name a few.
“We are going to have a wonderful day down at the 1881 Moses Carver house. We will be dipping candles, washing clothes on a wash board, Cheryl Franklin will be here making lye soap for us,” Eilenstein said. “We are going to be crocheting, making rag rugs, we have someone bringing a small loom, weaving, wool spinners, making butter, we will have our chuck wagon on display again this year. We will be doing Dutch oven cooking, shucking corn, and we will be turning some of that into cornmeal. Some of our musicians, who will be playing under the big tent in the morning, will be coming down (to the Moses Carver house) and having a jam session in the yard. That is all going on at the Carver house, it is a big day there.”
Eilenstein stated for those who will be dipping candles, they will be able to take them home.
There will also be a quilting bee going on at the monument. There will be events also going on inside the visitor’s center and at the Carver Family Cemetery, visitors may explore the hidden meanings of epitaphs and engravings.
Edible and medicinal plants found on the prairie will be displayed and prairie walks will be conducted. Near the pond, basket weavers will create works of art, and exhibits will show woodland and prairie animals and birds. Kid-friendly activities include painting with natural dyes, old-fashioned toys and games, and a special Junior Ranger badge. An exhibit near the site of the slave cabin will show Civil War medicine, and the role of archeology will be explored. Tri State Carvers Guild will demonstrate wood carving techniques, the Missouri Department of Conservation will discuss the benefit of prescription fire on the prairie, and the Neosho Fish Hatchery will present interactive exhibits.
The park visitor center will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and concessions will be offered by the Carver Birthplace Association.
The monument is located two miles west of Diamond on Route V, then a half mile south on Carver Road.
For more information, please call the park at 325-4151 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or visit the park website: www.nps.gov/gwca.
