The January edition of the California State Parks and Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park’s monthly Hands on History event gives a nod to the trappers who once made a living here in Sacramento region.
Taking place this Saturday, Jan. 21, the “Hands on History: Trappers, Trades & Treaties” interactive event will give visitors the opportunity to step back in time to the 1840s and see live demonstrations and activities that reveal why trappers were considered “jacks of many trades”. Fort visitors will experience how trappers lived, worked, and explored new territory and traded with local Native Americans. And items that were commonplace in the middle of the 19th century but seem strange now will be available to view, handle, and hear about.
Guests will also learn about many fascinating aspects in the life of a trapper, see examples of game traps and how they work, plus learn about the important “barter process” Sutter used to hunt and trap on Native lands. You’ll also be able to examine pelts, create souvenir documents with a quill pen and oak gall ink, string trade beads and watch how flint and steel can be used to start a fire.
As a special treat, the kitchen of a Trapper’s Camp will be set-up so fort visitors can see and learn how they cooked while sampling beef jerky dried over an open fire. And, not to be left out, popular demonstrations of black powder weaponry in action will take also place including the crowd-favorite firing of Sutter’s cannon.
The Hands on History event will take place from 10am to 5pm this Saturday. Admission costs are $7 per adult (18 and older), $5 per youth (ages 6 to 17) and free for children 5 and under. For more information, please call 916-445-4422 or visit suttersfort.org.
Photo by Star Shiningforever/CC Flickr
