ANNUAL EVENTS

ANNUAL WAGON BOX FIGHT TOUR
August 2, 2009

     August 2, 2009 will mark the 142^nd anniversary of the famous Wagon Box Fight.  In recognition of the event, that Sunday a bus tour will travel to several of the important historic sites relating to Fort Phil Kearny and the Wagon Box battle.  The bus will leave Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site at 10:00 a.m. and return approximately mid-afternoon.  A sack lunch and refreshments will be provided during the tour. 

     This is a rare opportunity to visit locations of the fortified blockhouses built by soldiers and woodcutters for protection from Indian attacks while harvesting the lumber needed to build and supply Fort Phil Kearny.  Most are on private land today, and are not accessible to the public.  The tour will also include the locations of historic bridge crossings, and the site where it is believed the Native American wounded were treated after the Wagon Box battle.  The event will conclude with a guided tour, weapons demonstration and wrap up discussion at the Wagon Box Fight Site.

     Cost for the tour is $35.00 per person, which includes bus transportation, sack lunch and refreshments.  Pre-registration is required, and reservations can be made and further information provided by calling Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site at 307-684-7629 or 307-684-7687 daily between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The tour is being co-sponsored by Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site and the Fort Phil Kearny/Bozeman Trail Association.

     Fort Phil Kearny State Historic is located 3 miles off of Interstate 90 Exit 44.  It is administered by the Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources Department.

BOZEMAN TRAIL DAYS 2009

FORT PHIL KEARNY STATE HISTORIC SITE

Dates for 2009 are:
Saturday, June 20: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday, June 21:  9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon

Living History Programs, Activities and Displays

BOZEMAN TRAIL DAYS, a living history event will be conducted at Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site June 20-21, with Cavalry, Infantry and Artillery 1866 period demonstrations and camp.  In the camp there will be tent exhibits of an officer’s and an enlisted man’s quarters.  There will be demonstrations of infantry and artillery drills, along with  firing demonstrations and complete descriptions of a period artillery piece, ammunition, crew and equipment.  Two types of tepees will be set up and a selection of Native American items for exhibit and demonstration.

Saturday Afternoon  there will be a tour of the Fetterman Battlefield through the battle line, each of the positions, descriptions of how the battle took place, and a weapons demonstration of those used by both the Native Americans and the military.

Sunday Morning a tour will be conducted to the historic sites outlying around the Fort.  These include the sawmill, the original Bozeman Trail route, Rifle Pits, Indian Tepee Rings, Pilot Knob and the Historic Cemetery.  The Cemetery is undergoing archeological research which may allow the visitor to see the original grave locations for the first time since the Fort was abandoned in 1868.

There is no admission fee to enter the site and attend the demonstrations.  There is a $5.00 fee for the Fetterman Tour and the Historic Sites Tour.  For further information please can 307-684-7629.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR
DIRECTIONS, CALL 307-684-7687

SCHEDULE OF FORT PHIL KEARNY EVENTS
(Buffalo, Sheridan, Big Horn, Story, Kaycee, Dayton, Ranchester)

(NOT ALL EVENTS ARE LISTED, PLEASE CONTACT EACH COMMUNTY'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR COMPLETE EVENT DETAILS)

June 20-21, 2009 – Bozeman Trail Days – Fort Phil Kearny www.philkearny.vcn.com, www.bozemantrail.org

CONTACTS AND LOCATIONS

     Fort Phil Kearny is located between Sheridan and Buffalo.  It can be reached by taking exit 44 of Interstate 90 and following the brown and white historic directional signing.  The site is open 8 to 6 Daily May 15 – Sept 30. or 12 to 4, Wednesday – Sunday October 1 to May 14.  We can be reached at rwilso@state.wy.us or sreisc@state.wy.us, our web page is http://www.philkearny.vcn.com/, and our address is 528 Wagon Box Road, Banner, WY  82832  Phone is (307)684-7629 or fax is 7967.

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