Jorden Blucher talks about the great things you can expect this summer at This is the Place Heritage Park.
One of the few real tinsmiths in the U.S. works his craft in Heritage Village. The blacksmith makes items that are used elsewhere in the village while explaining his trade to visitors. A similar working environment is found at the furniture-maker’s shop and the saddlery. See wool being carded and spun into yarn to be colored with dyes made from native plants.
The Park has puppet shows, rug making, crafts, and pioneer classes at the school. Visit the newspaper print shop, see how butter is churned and taste it on fresh bread, find old-fashioned penny candy at Z.C.M.I., see nearly-lost arts (such as basket making, rug making, needlework or hair weaving) demonstrated, or go on a handcart mini-trek.
Young visitors can help do chores by watering the real garden, beating dirt from rugs hung on the fence rail or scrubbing clothes on a washboard in a large metal tub. They can see and touch domestic animals typical of the era: cows, sheep, goats, chickens, horses and huge oxen – even ride a pony!
Remember that Living History Season starts May 15. The park is open 7 days a week from 9 am to 5 Pm. Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for children and seniors. With that you get to ride ponies, the mini-train and do take home crafts. Yearly memberships are available for families (which gets in all immediate family members living in the same household) and grandparents (4 adults and 6 grandchildren).
Look for the opening of the Park’s Native American Village and Special Events this year including
May 15-16 – Living History Season Kick-off and Mountain Man Rendezvous; May 23 & 25 – Baby Animal Days; June 27 – Rodeo; July 18 – Mormon Mile Fun Run/Walk; July24-25 – Pioneer Days; Aug 8-Back to School Festival; September 11-12 – Civil War Reenactment and October 1-3 – Heritage Days.
Also be sure to check out Day Camps for ages 6-11, that include 4 day, day camps, offered in June and August, plus Art in the Park and apprenticeships for ages 14 and older, working in the blacksmith, tinsmith, spinner, leather work and wood work areas.
This is the Place Heritage Park is also great for weddings, corporate retreats, family reunions and even treks that are affordable, last one day, include lunch and are guided by a trail boss. All you do is add water and youth.
To learn more, go to the This is the Place Heritage Park website at www.thisistheplace.org
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