Drill with Musket-Toting Soldiers (Or… Just Churn Butter) – Saturday and Sunday!

It’s 1865 and musket-toting infantrymen are trying to recruit you into defending the citizenry from hostile “Indians.” (Check out the video below.)

Sure, these guys’ tents may seem cozy, and their cornbread, beans and salt pork over the fire may look tasty, but chat with them and think again. These “sagebrush soldiers” of the Oregon volunteer infantry have endured starvation and thirst, living in mining camps they were sent to protect.

A recruiter will give you a quick physical... (do you have most of your teeth and 10 fingers?) demonstrate fire starting, and drill you in marching.

The cadre has stopped by Mrs. Sarah Blair’s cabin to camp before heading back to the valley and civilian life. Mrs. Blair is happy to see them. A war party has been seen in the area recently. And her homesteading family welcomes any visitors here at the edge of 9,000 square miles of high desert.

Children (who aren’t recruited) can discover the fun of pioneer games such as hoop-and-stick races, pumping the well, grinding grain, washing laundry in a bucket with a ringer, doing leather crafts, gardening, building a log cabin, churning butter or getting a lesson from a schoolmarm, spinner or seamstress!

To the right face-March! The Sagebrush Soldiers are here 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday, June 4 and 5, and the homestead cabin is open every day, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.