Fort Phil Kearny Season Re-Opening Celebration

Fort Phil Kearny is 160 years old this year. It was built in 1866, one of three forts which were built to protect travelers along the Bozeman Trail.

On Saturday, June 13th, the Fort hosted a grand opening of the permanent exhibits in the Interpretive Center, in conjunction with Bozeman Trail Day.

Sharie Shada, Site Superintendent, talked about the new displays at the fort.

She added this about some of the day’s events.

Musicians Rockin’ Fellers, David Haile and Veryn Urion played Celtic music on fiddle and guitar at the event. Haile explained why the music may have been played during the time Fort Phil Kearny was an active fort.

Many of the recruits in the frontier army were Irish, so the music would have reminded them of their homeland, so far away.

Here is one selection of their music.

Kearny’s Frontier Regulars were on hand in full uniform explaining the weaponry and life at the Fort. They also fired the cannon, and Craig Fisher gave bugle demonstrations. There was also a display of Civil War medicine and medical devices.

The event took place throughout the fort grounds and inside the Interpretive Center. There were several living history exhibits, Shada added.

It was an all-day event and there were a lot of activities for young and old to enjoy.

Mae Smith, Director of the Agriculture Program and Instructor of Rangeland Management at Sheridan College, had a display at the Fort.

The International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists will be featured in an upcoming story.

Included in the events of the day were special speakers and demos including Cavalry & Infantry Talks, Archaeology, atlatl toss, living history demonstrations, cannon fires, and bugle demonstrations

In the afternoon, there was a Crow tipi raising, but that will be another story.