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2008 Living History Area
The Festival started in 1972, with a pioneer theme because it was in Pioneer Park. Prizes were given in the first
couple of years for pioneer costumes. In 1976, as part of the National Bi-Centennial Celebration a special area
was set aside for historic traders and a muzzleloader target shoot.
In 1984, the target shooting stopped and frontier crafts became the main attraction of the Living History Area.
The Brookings Renegade Muzzleloaders Club will be manning the gates in colorful costumes. These Folks
park the valid handicapped vehicles. The Silver Creek Mavericks handle the west gates checking gate passes
for food delivery & parking for exhibitors.
Dream Weavers on the east side do lamp work, glass beads, and felting. The Murreys will be doing lamp work
and glass beads on the west end of the historic area. There are now some 24 exhibits in the Historic Area.
Prairie Fiber Arts Guild will have displays and demonstrations on weaving, dyeing, spinning, and felting of
wool. Amalgamated Tinware will have an ongoing demonstration on the ancient art of tinsmithing. There will
also be a working black smith forge operated by Dean Slader of Historic FT. Atkinson, Nebraska. Glenn
Swanson will do a demonstration of scrimshaw on powder horns each day. Glenn ,“Yellow Legs”, crafts
historic powder horns of the early frontier. He also has historic clothing for sale. Hannible Hasse will have Furs,
beads and jewelry for sale using historic trade beads. Several other traders in the area will have historic
beads for sale. Trade beads have a 5000 year old history and are fascinating to see and handle. Some of the
beads shown are hundreds of years old.
Bud Johnson from Pipestone MN, will be carving Pipestone, making traditional Plains Indian pipes. The Silver
Creek Mavericks will have a display of gunfighter and dance hall girl items. Black Hawk Traders,& Northwest
Prairie Wares, will have a large selection of historic clothing for sale, as well as, re-enactor accoutrements.
Dick Kapuska of Black Hawk Traders will also perform his “Campfire Music” in the camp. Don’t miss “Mad
Jack” at J.C. Centavo. “Mad Jack” is a “Taos” trader who was recently voted Minnesota’s “most eligible
bachelor”. He has historic toys, jewelry, and trinkets. “Bud” sells homemade root beer that he makes at the
Festival and sells in decorative bottles or by the cup. Bill Crapser & Jeff Pincava will have displays of historic
swords & Armor for sale.
There will also be a Lewis & Clark Camp on display by the SD Chapter of the Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage
Foundation.
Feel free to stroll through the History area and visit with the re-enactors and craftsmen. Don’t be afraid to ask
questions about the things you see there.
The Festival started in 1972, with a pioneer theme because it was in Pioneer Park. Prizes were given in the first
couple of years for pioneer costumes. In 1976, as part of the National Bi-Centennial Celebration a special area
was set aside for historic traders and a muzzleloader target shoot.
In 1984, the target shooting stopped and frontier crafts became the main attraction of the Living History Area.
The Brookings Renegade Muzzleloaders Club will be manning the gates in colorful costumes. These Folks
park the valid handicapped vehicles. The Silver Creek Mavericks handle the west gates checking gate passes
for food delivery & parking for exhibitors.
Dream Weavers on the east side do lamp work, glass beads, and felting. The Murreys will be doing lamp work
and glass beads on the west end of the historic area. There are now some 24 exhibits in the Historic Area.
Prairie Fiber Arts Guild will have displays and demonstrations on weaving, dyeing, spinning, and felting of
wool. Amalgamated Tinware will have an ongoing demonstration on the ancient art of tinsmithing. There will
also be a working black smith forge operated by Dean Slader of Historic FT. Atkinson, Nebraska. Glenn
Swanson will do a demonstration of scrimshaw on powder horns each day. Glenn ,“Yellow Legs”, crafts
historic powder horns of the early frontier. He also has historic clothing for sale. Hannible Hasse will have Furs,
beads and jewelry for sale using historic trade beads. Several other traders in the area will have historic
beads for sale. Trade beads have a 5000 year old history and are fascinating to see and handle. Some of the
beads shown are hundreds of years old.
Bud Johnson from Pipestone MN, will be carving Pipestone, making traditional Plains Indian pipes. The Silver
Creek Mavericks will have a display of gunfighter and dance hall girl items. Black Hawk Traders,& Northwest
Prairie Wares, will have a large selection of historic clothing for sale, as well as, re-enactor accoutrements.
Dick Kapuska of Black Hawk Traders will also perform his “Campfire Music” in the camp. Don’t miss “Mad
Jack” at J.C. Centavo. “Mad Jack” is a “Taos” trader who was recently voted Minnesota’s “most eligible
bachelor”. He has historic toys, jewelry, and trinkets. “Bud” sells homemade root beer that he makes at the
Festival and sells in decorative bottles or by the cup. Bill Crapser & Jeff Pincava will have displays of historic
swords & Armor for sale.
There will also be a Lewis & Clark Camp on display by the SD Chapter of the Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage
Foundation.
Feel free to stroll through the History area and visit with the re-enactors and craftsmen. Don’t be afraid to ask
questions about the things you see there.
