Historic Trails Group Invites The Public On A Field Trip May 15th and 16th

The Spring Trek of the Wyoming chapter of the Oregon-California Trails Association will feature a field trip Friday afternoon May 15 to the site of the so-called Battle of Red Buttes west of Casper and a trek the following day to Oregon Trail sites from Casper west to Devil’s Gate.

Friday’s field trip, weather permitting, will leave at 12:30 p.m. from the parking lot of the National Historic Trails interpretive Center, 1501 North Poplar in Casper, at 12:30 p.m.

On Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. at the Wyoming State Oil and Gas Conservation Commission building, 2211 King Blvd. in Casper, Wyoming OCTA will host a program outlining the history of the 1865 battle and the 90-year controversy over its exact location. A brief business meeting of Wyoming OCTA will precede the public meeting.

The trek to trails sites between Casper and Devil’s Gate will leave the National Historic Trails Center parking lot at 8 a.m. May 16. Weather permitting, stops will include Bessemer Bend, Avenue of Rocks, Willow Springs, Ryan Hill, Independence Rock, Devil’s Gate and, if time permits, the Mormon Handcart Visitor Center near Martin’s Cove. High-clearance vehicles are a good idea. Saturday trekkers need to bring their own lunches.

On hand Friday for the field trip, and Friday evening for the program. These will most likely include Danny Walker, recently retired Wyoming assistant state archeologist; Casper archeologist Carolyn Buff; Fort Caspar Museum Director Rick Young; Red Buttes battlefield historian Steve Haack, of Lincoln, Neb.; Wyoming State Archeologist Greg Pierce; officials from the Bureau of Land Management’s National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper; local volunteers from the recent investigations, OCTA members from around Wyoming, and others. The public is welcome at all events.