History Walks The Streets At Trail Of Courage In Rochester
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ROCHESTER - History comes alive this weekend at the 32nd annual Trail of Courage Living History Festival.
The event will be conducted at the Fulton County Historical Society grounds four miles north of Rochester on U.S. 31. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $6 for adults, $2 for children age 6 to 11 and free for children age 5 and under.
The Potawatomi Indians were marched single-file down Rochester's Main Street Sept. 5, 1838, on the forced removal known as the Trail of Death. Since 1976, the festival has honored the American Indians and shown a glimpse of live before the removal when this was Potawatomi Territory.
Frontier Indian comes alive with foods cooked over wood fires, period music and dance, traditional crafts, historic camps and trading, canoe rides on the river and much more.
The event combines genealogy of the Potawatomi Indians and the settlers who lived in Fulton County and northern Indiana in the 1800s. Rendezvous events, stage programs and the historic canoe landing and fur trade skit on the Tippecanoe River are planned.
A presentation of an eagle feather to the Potawatomi Trail of Death Association is set for 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Indian dance arena to thank all who helped commemorate the 1838 removal from Indiana to Kansas.
The feather is from Gary Wiskigeamatyuk, of Cypress, Calif., a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi, whose ancestor, Chief Abram Burnett was on the Trail of Death.
This year's honored Potawatomi family will be Smokey McKinney, of Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kan. He is a member of the Prairie Band who teaches Potawatomi language and history. He will tell his families' story at 10:30 a.m. both days on the Chippeway Village stage.
New this year will be Sarah Miller, of Kewanna, playing guitar and violin.
The Trail of Courage includes historic encampments representing the French & Indian War, Voyageurs, Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Western Fur Trade, Plains Indians teepees and Woodland Indian wigwam village. A special recreation of a Miami village includes wigwams and lifeways demonstrations, such as making cattail mats.
The grounds are handicapped accessible. Free tram rides are available to bring people from the museum, round barn and Living History Village at the north ends of the grounds. The museum and village are open with costumed hosts and free admission.
Volunteers can earn free admission to the event by working a half day. To volunteer, or for more information, call the museum at 574-223-4436. Free parking is provided on FCHS grounds.
