On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. come to the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
and celebrate 100 years with the National Park Service. A day filled with family-friendly activities, including special speakers, HAM radio operators, living history characters, Picnic in the Park, and the unveiling of the preserve’s Centennial quilt created by the Flint Hills Quilt Guilds and local Chase County quilters. Free birthday cake and lemonade will be served at 1 p.m. All activities are free to the public and share in the central theme of the day celebrating Voices of the Past.
The preserve has a rich cultural heritage. We invite anyone that has a story to share about the ranch to participate in an oral history project. Volunteers from the Flint Hills Discovery Center will be available on August 27th to interview participants about their personal experiences of the ranch by asking questions and capturing the stories on video. Videos will become part of the preserve’s Oral History Collection. Capturing those historic stories now is vital to celebrating and preserving our heritage. Through this project, our stories will forever be preserved for countless future generations to come as the National Park Service begins its next 100 years. Please call the preserve at 620-273-8494 (hit 0) to set up an appointment. Allow approximately 20 minutes for your interview.
The day begins at 10 a.m. with wagon rides and living history programs being provided throughout the day until 4 p.m. The day focuses on celebrating our heritage and the National Park Service’s milestone of turning 100 years old.
Beginning at 10:30 a.m., learn about historic land surveying from one of the early voices of the past through a 1st person living history presentation given by local surveyor, Steve Brosemer. Thirty minute programs will be presented at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Mr. Brosemer’s presentations bring history to life as he dresses the part of a 19th century land surveyor. Program will be presented near the historic barn under the Cottonwood tree.
Throughout the day, listen and participate with local HAM radio operators as voices from all over the world communicate through this “old school” technology.
Bring a picnic basket and spread a blanket on the house lawn, while making some family memories with our Picnic in the Park program from 12 noon to 1 p.m. During lunch, roving rangers will present our Junior Ranger program, The 1st 100 for the Next 100 to Picnic in the Park participants. Kids complete activities, while learning about the park and will then receive a Jr. Ranger badge and special collectible patch. No reservations are necessary for this program.
At 1:00 p.m. join in the birthday celebration as the preserve’s Centennial quilt is unveiled for the first time. The quilt was lovingly created by the Flint Hills Quilt Guilds and local quilters. This beautiful quilt tells the story of the preserve’s rich natural and cultural heritage through fabric photos, quilt blocks, and special techniques of fiber art. Following the quilt unveiling, birthday cake and lemonade will be provided, as we share in celebrating the first 100 years of the National Park Service.
The preserve encourages you to Find Your Park by exploring any of our over 40 miles of hiking trails, viewing the historic buildings, and making memories with your family as you take a wagon ride or attend our special programs. Bus and house tours will be provided throughout the day.
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Wagon rides, on-going living history presentations, and learn about the Lower Fox
Creek Schoolhouse from volunteers
10:00 a.m. –4:00 p.m. –On-going hands-on activities under the Flint Hill Discovery Center tent with bison and
other pelts.
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – Historic land surveying presentation with Steve Brosmer
11:00 a.m. –11:30 p.m. –Kansa Indian talk with Mark Brooks of the Kaw Mission State Historic Site
11:30 p.m. –12:00 p.m. –Historic land surveying presentation with Steve Brosmer
12:00 p.m. – 1 p.m. – Picnic in the Park-bring a picnic and throw a blanket on the front lawn
Roving Rangers giving Jr. Ranger program on the lawn among picnic goers
1:00 p.m. – Unveiling of the Centennial Quilt and 100th Birthday Celebration with Cake and Lemonade
2:00 p.m. –3:00 p.m. – Prairie Bus Tour
3:00 p.m. –4:00 p.m. – Prairie Bus Tour