California Trail Interpretive Center December Events

ELKO, Nev. – Try your hand at a spinning wheel. Carve a paper snowflake. Create your own tin lantern, and learn traditional Shoshone games. The California Trail Interpretive Center is presenting free, family friendly programs throughout December.

Dec. 6, 2:00 p.m.: A Shoshone Walk Through Time 
For thousands of years, the Shoshone have lived off the land. Join James Hedrick and discover how traditions and culture have changed over time and how modern Shoshone continue to thrive today.

Dec. 7, 2:00 p.m.: Clothes Pin Dolls for Kids 
Girls often took a doll along with them on their journey westward. Emigrant Patty Reed clutched a small doll during her long winter in the Sierras. Pioneer kids made toys with the materials they had. Join in the fun and make your own clothes pin doll using needle and thread. For children age seven and up.

Dec. 13, From Sheep to Shawl: Fiber Arts at the California Trail Interpretive Center, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
Experience the beauty and diversity of the fiber arts. Pioneer women knit socks, mittens and shawls. Today, fiber artists create hats, purses, slippers, stuffed animals, and other items that are cherished and loved. Trail Center volunteers and Members of the Ruby Mountain Fiber Folk will demonstrate spinning, carding, knitting crochet and weaving.

Dec. 14, 2:00 p.m. – Kid’s Quilting Program: Bear Tracks on My Bed
What do bear tracks, turkey tracks and log cabins have in common? They are represented on quilts. Learn about pioneers by the patterns they left behind. Create your own paper quilt block that represents life on the Trail.

Dec. 20, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.: Pioneer Christmas for Kids 
Celebrate a pioneer Christmas at the Trail Center. Christmas stories begin at 2:00 p.m., followed by crafts. Carve paper snowflakes, create a tin lantern, make a Christmas ornament, and design a paper quilt block for the Trail Center’s paper quilt.

Dec. 21, 2:00 p.m.: Traditional Christmas Cards
Join Whitney Johnson for a Christmas story, and create your own pioneer Christmas cards.

Dec 27., 2:00 p.m.: Shoshone Games
Attention all kids: Join James Hedrick and learn traditional Shoshone games.

Dec. 28, 2:00 p.m.: Happy Birthday, Elko
Celebrate Elko’s Birthday! Elko was founded December 28, 1868. Join historian Jan Petersen in an illustrated talk on Elko’s pioneer background. Come hear stories of our community and trade tales. Audience participation is welcome and encouraged.

For more information about the California Trail Interpretive Center call (775) 738-1849. Visit the Trail Center online at www.californiatrailcenter.org, or on Facebook California Trail Interpretive Center Association.

The California Trail Interpretive Center is located eight miles west of Elko on I-80, Hunter exit 292. The Center is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.