Sports and Outdoors

Monday, August 27, 2012

History weekend at Indiana Dunes State Park, Sept. 8-9

From the Indiana Department of Natural Resources:

Visitors to Indiana Dunes State Park can relive the history of the dunes area on Sept. 8 and 9.

All weekend, members of the Ouiatenon Brigade will be on the beach, just east of the beach pavilion. The brigade portrays the French-Canadian voyageurs of the 1700s in dress, food and lifestyle.

“To be standing by the brigade with the foredunes in the background really allows you to step back and imagine the time of early French-Canadian fur traders,” said Brad Bumgardner, park interpretive naturalist. “It’s a really neat sight to see.”

Saturday night will end with a performance of Native American flute music by Mike Mycroft. Mycroft will introduce visitors to the history of flute music in the Americas and demonstrate his skill before a setting sun. Visitors should bring a chair or blanket for sitting in front of the beach pavilion.

On Sunday at 2 p.m., Jim Ton, a former park employee, will lead a hike exploring the park’s early years. He will highlight the changes he saw in the park during his employment and in the 50 years since. The hike, which involves moderate sand walking, starts at the main beach pavilion and will travel into the dunes.


Other programs will include voyageur hikes that explore the park’s early history, as well as a look at how the dunes have influenced different art styles, from paintings to Hollywood movies.

All programs are free, but the standard park gate fee of $5 for Indiana vehicles and $10 for out-of-state vehicles will be in effect. For more information, call the nature center at (219) 926-1390.

Indiana Dunes State Park is at 1600 North 25 E. Chesterton, 46304.

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