Voyageurs Encampment

Fri 8/5/2011  Sat 8/6/2011

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The public is invited to step back in history to the great French Fur Trading Era during the Pioneer Village Museum's annual Voyageurs Encampment Aug. 5-6. Through the many educational demonstrations of the crafts and practices of that time, visitors will have a chance to sample what life was like then. 

The fur trade era extended from the 1700's to 1842. In the early years, French traders traded with the Native Americans for furs. The voyageurs were men hired to move goods and furs up and down rivers. They spent most of their lives paddling canoes to move goods.

After Lewis and Clark, the fur trappers moved west. Traders with needed supplies (black powder, traps, flour, sugar, coffee, ect.) would rendezvous with them each year to outfit them for their time spent in the wilderness. These gatherings were also a time for meeting and making friends. They engaged in various competitions to demonstrate their skills with black powder rifles and pistols, bows and arrows, tomahawks, and knives.

At a modern fur trader rendezvous, you may see some of these same skills demonstrated along with cooking or baking over an open camp fire, had-crafting various items, and blacksmithing. The actors for the two day event will be living in different types of period tents and tepees.

Hours for the encampment will be from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday with the group breaking camp and departing Sunday morning before the museum re-opens for their regular hours – 1-5 p.m. 

Pioneer Village Museum is located 1 1/2 miles west of Cameron on CTY Hwy W. For more information, call 715-458-2080 or 715-642-1327 or check the web: www.barroncountymusuem.com  

Contact/Location

Pioneer Village Museum
CAMERON, WI
715-458-2080