Fri Jul 10

Gold Rush Days relived in South Pass City, Wyoming, July 11-12, 2015

Written by Pitch Engine

South Pass City State Historic Site, WY - Each summer South Pass City State Historic Site hosts Gold Rush Days. This fun event celebrates life in a western gold camp. Gold Rush Days features a vintage baseball tournament played with turn-of-the-century uniforms, gold panning, historic stamp mill demonstrations and printing press demonstrations. Baked goods from secret family recipes, wagon rides, live music in the saloons, billiards and historic reenactments are just a few of the events that keep visitors entertained during the weekend celebration.

One of the favorite (and loudest) events is anvil blasting or anvil shooting, as some call it. It was a way miners celebrated big events. Two anvils are set one on top of the other. The cavity in the bottom of the anvil is filled with blasting powder and detonated. Miners used blasting powder every day to break up the rock in the mines, but on special days they would use the same blasting powder to shoot anvils into the sky. Historically they would have had competitions between miners to see who could get the most height and boom as well.

Activities start at 9-6pm each day. Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children, and kiddos under age six are free. South Pass City State Historic Site is located 32 miles south and west of Lander on Highway 28. Don’t forget to bring your camera and sunscreen!

2015 Activities:

Carissa Mine Open House 1:00 to 3:00 pm - Saturday-Sunday

Smithing Demonstration with David Osmundsen, Buffalo WY at the Carr Butcher Shop - Saturday-Sunday

Gold Panning at the Price St. Bridge - Saturday-Sunday

Jess Camilla O’Neal & The Never Sweat Players on Main Street 11:00 to 2:00pm - Saturday-Sunday

Wagon & Buggy Rides at the Sherlock Barn - Saturday-Sunday

Anvil Blasting—the big KA BOOOM! On the hour at Price Street Bridge - Saturday-Sunday

Pony Express Demo National Pony Express Association 11:45 & 3:30 pm - Saturday-Sunday

Tintype & Glass Plate Photography with Lindsy Ross, Santa Barbara, CA, near the Miners’ Exchange Saloon – Saturday & Sunday. Demonstrations at 11 am & 3 pm

U.S. Corp of Topographical Engineers Surveying the West Demonstrations at the Sherlock Barn – Saturday & Sunday

Pioneer Women Janet Crouche Wragge, Casper, WY, near the Miners’ Exchange – All Day Saturday & Sunday

Cowboy Poetry at the Ervin Store – Saturday & Sunday

Friends of South Pass Bake Sale on Main Street - Saturday-Sunday

Letter Press Printing with Mike Parker, Powell WY at the South Pass Hotel Lobby - Saturday- Sunday, Printing Demonstrations 11 am & 12:30 pm

Barbecue & Refreshments by Grandma & Grandpa Catering at the Ball Field - Saturday-Sunday

Shaved Ice By Frigid Frog at the Ball Field - Saturday-Sunday

Cookie Baking in a Wood Stove at the back entrance of the Sherlock House - Saturday-Sunday

Historic Mining Demos at the Price Street Bridge 10:30 a.m. - Saturday- Sunday

Stamp Mill Demonstrations at the Wolverine Adit - Saturday-Sunday

Quilt Exhibition Lander Quilters at the Libby Cabin & the Sweetwater County Jail - Saturday-Sunday

Vintage baseball tournament played with period uniforms and rules:

July 11th

Game 1—9:00 Hudson vs. SPC

Game 2—11:00 Lander vs. Riverton

Game 3—2:00 Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2

Game 4—4:00 Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2.

July 12th

Game 5—10:00 Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4

Game 6—12:00 Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5

Game 7—2:00 optional

For more information of this fun filled weekend from the past, just call 307-332-3684 for more information or visit: http://www.southpasscity.com/grd.html

For a complete calendar of events go to www.windriver.org/calendar, or to request a vacation packet, please visit us at Wind River Country or call 800-645-6233.

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Authors: Pitch Engine