The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve held an interpretation of 1800′ Independence Day tradition on Saturday.
The interpretation started with Steve Schowalter reading the preamble to the Declaration of Independence which then led to the traditional games and activities from the 1800s.
The games and activities included a footrace, 3 legged race, potato sack race, Hoop and Stick, tug of war, jump rope and lessons from two of the interpreters. Steve Schowalter taught roping and Marna Showalter taught crochet.
The Schowalters played different parts in the interpretation. Steve Schowalter played a cowboy who worked on the ranch and Marna Schowalter played Louisa Jones who lived and worked on the ranch. Both interpreters have a process on how they get into there roles. Marna Schowalter goes on to say:
“You read a lot and you read all kinds of fiction and nonfiction and then pile it all together and pull out what seems to be the most important and interesting”
The Schowalters started doing historical interpretations 30 years ago. Steve Schowalter states why they started by saying:
“I think it was friends who did it that kinda twisted our arms, so we went out and watched and we experienced the fun and the frolic and the keeping history alive”
The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve holds events like these on the first Saturday of every month until October so to learn more about what the upcoming events will be, visit their website at nps.gov.
If you would like to volunteer at the preserve cal 2738494 or email Heather Brown at heather_brown@nps.gov
Photos by Lance Moore/KVOE News
{gallery}TGP Independence day{/gallery}
