Fort Atkinson to open revamped visitor center

Celebrate Fort Atkinson State Historical Park’s revamped visitor center with a living history weekend June 3-4 at the park in Fort Calhoun.

The park will host a ribbon cutting and rededication of the center, which features entirely new museum displays, cultural interpretations and an updated theater space, at 10:30 a.m. June 3. At 1 p.m., guest speaker Steve Tomayo will talk about the Native American history at the fort.

Reenactors will offer living history activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days. They will portray fur traders, coopers, blacksmiths, carpenters, tinsmiths, weavers and other period trades. At noon both days, they will fire a cannon.

Refreshments, including lemonade and cookies, will be offered Saturday while supplies last.

The complete schedule of events is as follows:

Saturday, June 3

• 10 a.m.: Flag raising
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Living history activities
• 10:30 a.m.: Ribbon cutting and rededication of the visitor center
• Noon: Cannon firing
• 1 p.m.: Steve Tomayo speaks

Sunday, June 4

• 10 a.m.: Flag raising
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Living history activities
• Noon: Cannon firing
• 1:30 p.m.: Trapper’s funeral

A vehicle park entry permit is required and may be purchased at the park, statewide Nebraska Game and Parks offices or in advance online at OutdoorNebraska.gov.

Fort Atkinson is one of the earliest U.S. military posts west of the Missouri River. It was established in 1820 on recommendation of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and, at its peak, held nearly one quarter of the standing U.S. Army or approximately 1,200 soldiers. The fort was important to the early fur trade, river traffic and Native American relations.

Today, much of the fort has been rebuilt, including the barracks, gates, an armorer’s shop, the council house and the Sutler Store. Now, the visitor center joins those efforts in being revitalized.