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| Subject: SEASIDE MUSEUM HOSTS SALTMAKERS RETURN | |
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Author: Tita Montero |
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Date Posted: 13:07:39 08/13/07 Mon On August 17-19, Seaside residents and visitors can experience the closest thing to time travel when the Seaside Historical Museum celebrates Seaside’s contribution to the historical Lewis and Clark expedition by hosting the Saltmakers Return. During the Corps of Discovery’s stay in NW Oregon in the winter of 1805-06, some members were dispatched to what would eventually become Seaside. There they replenished the Corps’ store of salt by boiling sea water around the clock for 48 hours. Signs declaring “You Are Now Entering 1806” will be posted at the Avenue U beach access where men in period costume and manner will provide first person interpretation of the event which provided the Corps with the staple necessary to succeed in their return to civilization. In first person interpretation, the interpreters "become" a person from the past and move about and respond as that person would have. The interpreters remain true to history by speaking in period dialect and being completely unaware of any cultural or technological reference beyond the year 1806. The interpreters have thoroughly studied the past lives of each man portrayed, army protocols of the time and their personal adventures en route to the Northwest. Visitors to the encampment are encouraged to ask questions, but the interpreters will be playing their parts so completely they won't "understand" modern words, slang or references to modern conveniences. The event also features “contextual greeters,” museum volunteers who are placed at the entrance to this “other time” and prepare visitors for this temporal adventure. As one of the greeters put it: “My job is to welcome visitors to the Lewis & Clark Salt Works and let them know they are traveling back to the year 1806. They are to forget the hotels, houses and parked cars a few hundred yards behind them and imagine they are approaching this camp 201 years ago. The visitors will soon find themselves entering a different culture.” Greeters advise that the best way to start a conversation with a Saltmaker is to ask, 'How are you today?' 'Where are you from?' and 'What is your name?' and ask about their journey. In addition they have items on hand for visitors to conduct trade with the Corps members The interpretive site is just a few blocks south of the actual site where the saltmakers worked, which was determined during the Lewis & Clark Centennial 100 years ago through discussions with local tribal members still living who remembered the group. A replica of the rock construction used to boil the water commemorates the occasion. The Saltmakers Return is a particularly fun, interesting and extremely detailed interactive interpretation,. Staying true to the historical events, these role players will also perform their duties for 48 hours straight, starting at 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug 17 and going until 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 19. More information about this event and Seaside’s history can be found at www.seasidemuseum.org [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |