Black Hawk State Historic Site Calendar of Events

Black Hawk State Historic Site welcomes you to the following programs for 2009 presented by Citizens to Preserve Black Hawk Park Foundation.

These events are sponsored by Black Hawk State Historic Site in cooperation with Citizens to Preserve Black Hawk Park Foundation, providing education outreach for BHSHS since 1972.

Bald Eagle Days
January, 8, 9 & 10
Visit the Foundation's booth for Bald Eagle Days at the QCCA Expo Center, Rock Island, Jan. 8th, 9th and 10th. Free newsletters, Site information, and a eagle headband activity for children.
If you would like to help with manning the booth please notify Nancie in the Hauberg museum. For more information call (309) 788-9536.

“See the Birds at Singing Bird”
January 16
Learn about the many winter birds that visit our area. Chuck Wester, Site naturalist, will present a slide program on our common winter birds on Saturday, Jan. 16th from 10-noon at Singing Bird Nature Center, Black Hawk State Historic Site, 15th St and 45th Ave, Rock Island. In addition, various homemade birdfeeders will be on display. Refreshments will be provided. Free.
For more information call (309) 788-9536.

“Valentine Moonlight Stroll and Indoor Music”
February 14
Valentine Moonlight Stroll and Indoor Music, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, Watch Tower Lodge, Black Hawk State Historical Site, 1900 46th Ave./ Blackhawk Rd/Il Rte 5, Rock Island. Featuring full moon stroll outside on the luminary-lit trail. Too cold outside for the walk, come to the Lodge and keep warm by the fire with fresh donuts and cider or hot cocoa. Music will be provided by Just 4 Fun. FREE Singles, couples and family friendly.
For more information call (309) 788-9536.

“Lost Nation: The Ioway”
February 20
The 100th showing of the documentary Lost Nation: The Ioway will be shown at the Watch Tower Lodge, Black Hawk State Historic Site, 4600 Black Hawk Rd., Rock Island, on Saturday February 20 at 7:00 p.m. It is an unforgettable and vivid journey into American Natives, past and present. Ioway elders join historians and archaeologists to tell the true, dramatic story of the Ioway people. What was a quest for survival in the past has become a struggle to retain a unique Native American culture and language in the present. DVDs will be available for sale that night. Free. For more information call (309) 788-9536.

“Muscatine: Pearl Button Capital of the World”
March 9
Bob Motz will present a program entitled “Muscatine: Pearl Button Capital of the World”
On Tuesday March 9th at 7 p.m. at Singing Bird Nature Center, 15th St and 45th Ave, Rock Island. Pearl buttons were once the fashion rage. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries Muscatine, Iowa was the undisputed pearl button capital of the world. In addition to pearl buttons, other products were produced from the native mussel (clam) shells found in the Mississippi and Rock Rivers including ear rings, necklaces, cuff links, and belt buckles. By 1905, Muscatine pearl button factories employed over half the local workforce and produced 1.5 billion buttons annually. As the twentieth century wore on pearl buttons came to be replaced by plastic buttons. For more information call (309) 788-9536.

“Stroll Through Springtime”
May 1
The annual Stroll Through Springtime will take place at Black Hawk State Historic Site in Rock Island on Saturday, May 1st from 7 a.m. until noon. All events are free, and participants can come for any or all of the events.

Birds will be the focus of groups going in the field from 7 until 9:00. Bird groups will meet at the Black Hawk statue by the Watch Tower Lodge. Expert leaders will help to locate both resident and migratory birds. Participants can bring binoculars or use the binoculars provided.

At 9:00 people will move into the Lodge for refreshments, including wild violet jelly and a short program, entitled “Forest Plants: More Than Meets the Eye” by Site naturalist Chuck Wester. At 10:00 in small groups, participants will observe wildflowers in the forest. The Black Hawk forest is considered one of the best of its kind on State land in Illinois and is designated as a Nature Preserve. Many species of wildflowers can be observed. Leaders will identify and discuss natural history.

This event is one of the favorite events of the year for many who use Black Hawk State Historic Site. The event is appropriate for all ages. For more information call (309) 788-9536.

Held at Watch Tower Lodge, Black Hawk State Historic Site, 1510 46th Ave. (Black Hawk Rd. / IL Rte 5) in Rock Island

7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.—Local bird experts lead small groups to view migrating and resident birds. Binoculars are helpful.

9:00 a.m. to 10.00a.m.—Refreshments (wild violet jelly, bread, hot drinks)

Program— “Forest Plants: More Than Meets the Eye” by Site naturalist Chuck Wester

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.—Local experts lead small groups on Site trails to view wild flowers.

“Welcome Home”
May 1
On May 1st and 2nd, 2010 the Site will be hosting a huge Welcome Home event for the Sac and Fox of Oklahoma and the Meskwaki of Tama, Iowa. Festivities will include a Pow Wow on Saturday and Sunday and a formal dedication of the new Saukenuk exhibit with dignitaries from both tribes in attendance. The intention is to welcome the Sauk and Meskwaki home to this land that is still sacred to them to this day. Saturday will have the Grand Entry at noon and dancing and drumming until 5 p.m., Grand Entry at 7 p.m. and dancing and drumming until 9 p.m. On Sunday May 2, the Dedication Ceremony will be at 10 a.m., the Grand Entry at noon and Dancing and drumming from noon to 5 p.m.
For more information call (309) 788-9536.
_______________________________________________________________________

For more information on these programs: (309) 788-9536

Watch Tower Lodge is located on the south side of Black Hawk Rd, IL Rte 5, on the south side of the Historic Site in Rock Island.

Singing Bird Nature Center is located off IL Rte 5 at the end of 15th St. on the west side of the Historic Site.

Please refer to the maps in the Information Section
___________________________________________________________

Become a Member of Citizens to Preserve Black Hawk Park Foundation
Send your Name, Street, City, State, Zip, Phone Number and E-mail Address to:

Julie Werthmann, Treasurer
1505 32nd Street, Rock Island, Illinois 61201

Family Membership $15.00 - Single Membership $10.00 - Student Membership $1.00
Make checks payable to the Foundation.