Biennial event set to return to Lamar Community College September 29-30

Travel back in time this fall at the Frontier History Encampment, set for September 29-30 at the Lamar Community College campus.  Visitors will see history come to life through expert first-person historic interpreters who create a walk-through immersion into the 19^th century. 

The Encampment will be open to the public on Friday, September 29, from 12:00-5:00pm and Saturday, September 30, from 9:00am-5:00pm. 

As always, admission to the event is completely free and all ages are welcome.  School groups and homeschoolers are also encouraged to incorporate this event into a unique field trip experience for their students.

“The Frontier History Encampment is a one-of-a-kind celebration of the many different groups and cultures who called this part of the country home for one hundred years,” Kelly Emick said.  Emick is one of the event’s coordinators and History faculty at LCC.

The experience will include camps of Native Americans, fur trappers, Santa Fe trail traders, pioneer women, blacksmiths, buffalo hunters, frontiersmen, homesteaders, Civil War military including artillery firing demonstrations, a Civil War surgeon, soiled doves, a Mexican vaquero, mining camp, chuckwagon crew, and ranch life of the late 1800s. 

Brand new to the Encampment this year, are the Zouaves, who fought on both sides of the Civil War and were modeled after units in the Napoleonic military known for their colorful uniforms and unique combat tactics. 

Also returning to the event after a few years’ hiatus is Annie Oakley.  She will be recreating her historic shooting performances.  Annie Oakley’s Shooting Act will include four shows per day during the Encampment.

“We are excited to see a few new faces this year and a few that we haven’t seen in a while… while LCC provides the planning and venue, it is the living historians who make this such a superb experience for visitors,” Emick said.  “We are honored to have their continued commitment as we enter our second decade of the Encampment.” 

The Frontier History Encampment is a historic experience for all ages.  As with past Encampments, there will also be wagon rides available around campus and several of the historic interpreters include activities for kids in their demonstrations. 

There will also be a special event preceding the Frontier History Encampment, as LCC will host its Grand Reopening of the Lecture Halls after their renovation this past year.  Historic interpreter and noted Chatauquan Angel Vigil will be the key entertainment for the event, during which he will share 19^th century vaquero stories. 

The public is invited to attend, starting with refreshments at 5:30pm in the Bowman Building, followed by the event program starting at 6:00pm in the Large Lecture Hall.  For additional information about the event, visit www.lamarcc.edu/lecture-hall-grand-reopening.

Emick also mentioned the community support that goes into making this event happen, saying, “It is also important to recognize that this event is only possible because of the many local businesses and individuals who have continued to make donations each year.”

Sponsors for the event include the Huddleston Butler Foundation, TBK Bank, The Weitgenant Trust, Wal-Mart in Lamar, Clear Choice Water, Colorado Mills, Lamar Rotary Club, Community State Bank, Four Seasons Insurance, Valley National Bank, Air Care, Torres Excavation, Ark Valley Auto, McClave State Bank, Judy Turpin, and New York Life Insurance.

This event is also funded in part with revenue from the Prowers County Lodging Tax Tourism Panel.

To learn more about the Frontier History Encampment, visit https://lamarcc.edu/encampment/.  For additional event updates or to see photos from past years, visit the Frontier History Encampment Facebook page, @lccencampment.

For more information, contact Kelly Emick at (719) 336-1532 or Kelly.emick@lamarcc.edu.

Photo: Historic interpreters from the most recent Frontier History Encampment held on the LCC campus in October of 2015.