Rockpile Museum Will Host Homestead Heritage Festival

2012 marks the 150^th anniversary of the original Homestead Act of 1862, which granted 160 acres of land to citizens who would live on the land for five years and improve it by building a home and growing crops.  Homesteaders played a vital role in the history of northeast Wyoming.  The Campbell County Rockpile Museum invites all community members to a free Homestead Heritage Festival on Saturday, September 15^th. 

There will be performances by the Big Horn Basque Club dancers and Gillette Ganglat Fiddle Club.  Ongoing demonstrations will include spinning, a sheepherder’s lifestyle, traditional Native American foods and Dutch oven cooking.  Families may try some old-fashioned crafts and activities such as candle-dipping, rope-making, grinding wheat, wool carding, making homemade ice cream, a stick horse rodeo, and more.  The newly renovated sheepwagon and homestead shack will be open for tours.  Please come join the fun at the Homestead Heritage Festival from 10:00 to 2:00 on Saturday, September 15th!   Contact the museum at 682-5723 for a schedule of events.