EWING, Va. — July features some great programs and events at Wilderness Road State Park, with hikes, nature activities and historical interpretation among those being offered. Whether you’re a history buff, love nature, or are simply looking for fun and entertainment, Wilderness Road State Park, in Ewing, Virginia, has something for everyone.
Life at Martin’s Station – Throughout the month of July, Historic Martin’s Station will bring the 18th century Virginia frontier to life with daily interpretation and demonstrations. Join the men and women of Martin’s Station as they demonstrate blacksmithing, gunsmithing, hide-tanning, 18th century gardening, open hearth cooking and other activities you may have witnessed while traveling the Wilderness Road in 1775. The fort is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Monday.
July 1: Watershed Watch – This is a classic and exciting hands-on learning experience using a tabletop working watershed model. We will examine what a watershed is, how they work and the effects of point source and non-point source pollution in our watersheds. This fun learning tool will give you a real life look at how we can preserve our watersheds and water sources for future generations. This program will be conducted twice, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
July 2: The American Bison – One of this country’s most iconic symbols is the American Bison. But did you know that these magnificent beasts once roamed Powell’s Valley, on the very land Wilderness Road State Park sits on? In this exciting, all new program, guests will learn about the natural characteristics of bison, as well as the important role they played in our nation’s history. Follow our ranger on a short hike to the park’s bison viewing area to meet and observe North America’s largest land mammal. Program begins at 2 p.m.
July 4: Declaration of Independence – News spreads across Virginia’s frontier that on July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, approved a Declaration of Independence, severing the colonies’ ties to the British Crown. Experience the news of liberty with the men and women at Martin’s Station and discuss how the pending war will affect their lives. Special program presentations at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
July 7: Painting with Nature – Have you ever wondered how ancient artists created their masterpieces. Before the times of modern art supply stores, paint and brushes had to be crafted from materials found in the wild. Let’s rediscover the old methods of painting using grass, leaves, sticks and stones. We may even mix up our own “natural paint” to use. What will your masterpiece look like? The program will be conducted twice, with start times at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
July 8: Alarm at Martin’s Station – Attack is imminent. Settle into the fort and prepare yourself for a night of danger as a hostile war party approaches Martin’s Station. Will you stand with Captain Martin in defending hearth and home? Program begins at 8:30 p.m.
July 8-9: The Woman Warrior – Bearing the Burden of a Revolution – At the onset of the Revolutionary War, many backwoods settlements were left unprotected as militias were formed and men marched to battle. In many communities the women not only became providers, but warriors, who found themselves defending hearth and home against British loyalist and Shawnee and Cherokee raiders. Like their male counterparts, when called upon, engaged the enemy and protected their families. Journey to Martin’s Station and take up arms with the women of Powell’s Valley as they compete in a special Frontier Women’s Competition on Saturday. Tutorials for the competition will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday with the competition to be held at 2 p.m. Competition Categories include: Bullet Molding, Rolling Rounds, Firelocks, Tomahawk Throws, Fire Making, 18th Century Medicine, and a Dessert Competition. Sunday’s programs will feature discussions about the woman’s role on the frontier at special program times of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. (No competition on Sunday).
July 9: Sunday Cinema: American Eagle – Grab your popcorn and join us for a special big screen presentation of “American Eagle” in spectacular Blu-Ray High Definition. Enjoy stunning footage of our country’s most treasured bird of prey, the American bald eagle. This riveting program takes an unprecedented look at this remarkable bird and it’s surprisingly tough struggle to survive in the wild. The fun begins at 2 p.m. in the Visitor Center theatre.
July 14: Backyard Bird Watching – Enjoy a ranger-led hike in search of the area’s most recognizable backyard birds. Listen for their calls, note their distinctive color and markings and see if you can guess the bird’s identity. A checklist will be provided so participants can see how many native birds they encounter along the way. Program starts at 10 a.m.
July 15: A Shot of Vengeance – It was once said that artillery lends dignity to what would otherwise be considered an ugly brawl. Observe Captain Hord and his crew as they demonstrate the techniques and skills used to fire artillery, and its proper use on the 18th century battlefield. Special evening program begins at 8 p.m.
July 16: Big Safari – Bugs are those little critters everyone loves to hate. But they play an important role in our fragile ecosystem. Join our ranger and grab an insect viewer and field guide as we take a stroll into the “bug outback.” There are 353 bugs in Virginia’s Insect Identification Database. How many can we find? Program starts at 2 p.m.
July 30: Incredible Edibles, Foraging for Food – This is an exciting ranger-led hike, in search of edible plants. Throughout time, many of our native plants have been used for eating and medicinal purposes. Discover which plants are surprisingly tasty and nutritious and which ones to avoid. This program begins at 2 p.m.
In addition to these programs, the park offers an ADA handicap accessible playground, a nature playscape, picnic shelters, hiking trails and more. The new nature center is open on weekends and includes interactive and educational activities. See and touch the hides and skulls of several of the area’s native wildlife and more. The park’s visitor center houses guest information, a gift shop, frontier museum and a state-of-the-art theatre that showcases the film, Wilderness Road: Spirit of a Nation.
For more information, please contact the park office at 276-445-3065 or visit the park’s official website at www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/wilderness-road.shtml. You can also visit the Friends of Wilderness Road State Park official website: www.friendsofwildernessroad.org or Martin’s Station’s website at www.historicmartinsstation.com.
