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Railroad History Celebration
July 14, 2015 - July 20, 2015
Every town has a history, especially Thurmond, West Virginia. Come celebrate the rich stories of this historic town and the railroad that built it at Thurmond Train Day this weekend. This special one-day event is one of several programs in parks this week. All programs are FREE unless otherwise noted. Wear comfortable walking shoes for guided walks. Water, snacks, camera, and binoculars are other useful tools to bring along. Below is a list of this week’s featured ranger programs in area national parks.
Tuesday, July 14, 2015:
Ranger on the Rock
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm. Meet at Grandview’s Main Overlook. Come and go as you please for this informal program with a ranger at one of the best views of the New River Gorge. Enjoy the scenery and discuss area natural and cultural history.
Wednesday, July 15, 2015:
Ranger on the Rock
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm. Meet at Grandview’s Main Overlook. Come and go as you please for this informal program with a ranger at one of the best views of the New River Gorge. Enjoy the scenery and discuss area natural and cultural history.
Thursday, July 16, 2015:
Ranger on the Rock
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm. Meet at Grandview’s Main Overlook. Come and go as you please for this informal program with a ranger at one of the best views of the New River Gorge. Enjoy the scenery and discuss area natural and cultural history.
Friday, July 17, 2015:
Art in the Park Workshop
10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Meet at Sandstone Visitor Center in Sandstone, then carpool to locations in the park to paint. Join park volunteer “Resident Artist” Cecil Glenn Runions for plein air (paintings created outside using natural light) experiences in the park, using watercolor and acrylic paints. Bring your own equipment. Come and enjoy a day listening, learning, and experiencing the park in a new way. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED: call Sandstone Visitor Center 304-466-0417 (limited to 10 participants per workshop, ages 12 and up).
Ranger on the Rock
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm. Meet at Grandview’s Main Overlook. Come and go as you please for this informal program with a ranger at one of the best views of the New River Gorge. Enjoy the scenery and discuss area natural and cultural history.
Saturday, July 18, 2015:
Brookside Island Bird Walk
9:00 am – 11:00 am. Meet at Camp Brookside site in Brooks. 0.5 mile walk. Explore this special riverside habitat to look and birds living along the New River. Bring binoculars and a favorite field guide or some will be provided.
Art in the Park Workshop
10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Meet at Sandstone Visitor Center in Sandstone, then carpool to locations in the park to paint. Join park volunteer “Resident Artist” Cecil Glenn Runions for plein air (paintings created outside using natural light) experiences in the park, using watercolor and acrylic paints. Bring your own equipment. Come and enjoy a day listening, learning, and experiencing the park in a new way. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED: call Sandstone Visitor Center 304-466-0417 (limited to 10 participants per workshop, ages 12 and up).
Bluestone Walk
10:00 am – 11:30 am. Meet at the base of Pipestem Resort State Park tramway. 2 mile walk. Walk within Bluestone National Scenic River for a mile and return. Along the way, enjoy the flora and fauna of the area and discover regional history. Bring $2.25 for the return tram ride.
Thurmond Train Day
10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Meet in the Thurmond Historic District. Celebrate the rich stories of this historic town and the railroad that built it. Come and go as you please in this day full of history. Event features include: Operation Lifesaver will share tips on railroad safety; try your hand at using a railroad handcart; Historic Thurmond Tours at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, and 1:00; photography workshop for adults and youth; live music performed by John Lilly at 10:00 and Last Cannon Blue Grass Band at 2:00; plus finish off with a hike on the historic Rend rail line (see description below).
Rend & the Railroad Hike
2:00 pm – 4:30 pm. Meet at the Rend Trailhead on Route 25 near Thurmond. 3 mile walk. Take a look back in time at the railroad and the area’s industrial boom in the New River Gorge. Hike along the Historic Rend rail line and see where history happened.
Ranger on the Rock
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm. Meet at Grandview’s Main Overlook. Come and go as you please for this informal program with a ranger at one of the best views of the New River Gorge. Enjoy the scenery and discuss area natural and cultural history.
Sunday, July 19, 2015:
Art in the Park Workshop
10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Meet at Sandstone Visitor Center in Sandstone, then carpool to locations in the park to paint. Join park volunteer “Resident Artist” Cecil Glenn Runions for plein air (paintings created outside using natural light) experiences in the park, using watercolor and acrylic paints. Bring your own equipment. Come and enjoy a day listening, learning, and experiencing the park in a new way. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED: call Sandstone Visitor Center 304-466-0417 (limited to 10 participants per workshop, ages 12 and up).
Historic Thurmond Tour
11:00 am – 12:00 pm. Meet at the Thurmond Depot Visitor. 0.5 mile walk. What was life like in one of the New River Gorge’s most renowned towns? Meet a ranger in Thurmond’s historic district for an informal tour of this once bustling railroad town, hearing stories of days gone by.
Ranger’s Choice
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm. Meet at Canyon Rim Visitor Center in Lansing. Come and go as you please for this informal talk with a ranger. Topics and hands-on exhibits vary at each location, focusing on different aspects of recreation, natural history, or cultural heritage of the New River Gorge.
Make a Birdhouse
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm. Meet at Grandview Visitor Center. Kids! Join a ranger to learn about birds and the importance of recycling while you make your own birdhouse from recycled materials.
Don’t forget that there is still time to enter the 2015 Hidden History Photo Contest. Contest entries are due July 27, 2015. Contest rules and entry forms are available online at www.nps.gov/neri.
For more information about participating sites visit:
National Park Service: http://www.nps.gov/neri, http://www.facebook.com/
About the National Park Service
EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA
The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage. For more information about the National Park Service, visit http://www.nps.gov.
