FORT LARAMIE, WYO., July 18, 2022 - On Saturday July 30, Fort Laramie National Historic Site will host Fort Laramie After Dark. This year’s “after dark" adventure starts with afternoon and early evening concerts by singer Hank Cramer at 2:30 pm and 6:30 pm. At 8:00 pm, develop “A Bat Attitude" as you learn about these flying mammals. After twilight, cap the evening off with a journey through the “Starry, Starry Night."
“It is always a special occasion when we welcome the public to visit us under the stars," said superintendent Mark Davison, “These evening programs are also an excellent way to beat the summer heat with family and friends."
Hank Cramer’s booming bass voice, smooth-picking on a vintage flat-top guitar, and wry sense of humor will open the event. Bring the family for two performances by him under the cottonwoods. The first starts at 2:30 pm and the second at 6:30 pm. Hank will sing popular songs of 19th century emigrants, homesteaders, miners, and soldiers and share stories of bygone Western days. After Hank’s last notes, enjoy a picnic dinner as the sun edges toward the horizon.
Then, get “A Bat Attitude" at 8:00 pm while watching the fort’s bats leave their roosts for the nightly hunt. Listen to bat calls and decipher their meaning using echo meters. Thousands of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) make their home in the fort’s historic buildings and large “bat houses." While seemingly small and insignificant, these bats make a huge impact on the natural world.
Following “A Bat Attitude," go for a walk among the stars. Kendall Jacobs and other astronomers from the Central Wyoming Astronomical Society will offer a tour of the bright stars, constellations, and visible planets. During the journey, you will discover facts, lore, myths, legends, and history of astronomy and the night sky. Observation will last until the last stargazer falls asleep or the sun rises - whichever comes first.
Park and program admission are free. Participants are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on, a light jacket or windbreaker, insect repellent, and a flashlight.
For more information, visit the park website at www.nps.gov/fola or call the park at 307-837-2221. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
