Mountain Man Interpreter Bill Varga is Featured at USU Event
In the continuing Saturdays at the Museum Series, Utah State University’s Museum of Anthropology hosts Bill Varga, mountain man interpreter from the American West Heritage Center.
Varga’s interactive presentation is Saturday, July 31, with two offerings, first at 11 a.m. and again at 1 p.m. at the museum. He is featured in “Early Contact: When the Shoshone met the Mountain Men.” The presentation focuses on the interactions of the early mountain men with the Shoshone. Knowledge between the two was shared, including the use of indigenous native plants for food and medicine, allowing the mountain men to survive in the rugged and wild lands of Utah and Idaho.
The public will have an opportunity to view traditionally used native plant specimens and native clothing and tools used by both the Shoshone and mountain men. Children and adults can play traditional Shoshone games.
“This fun, family event will encourage visitors to understand both positive and negative interactions between the Shoshone and the mountain men and the long-term impacts of such interactions,” said USU Saturday program event planner Aurora Durfee.
The USU Museum of Anthropology is on the USU campus in the south turret of the historic Old Main building, Room 252.
USU students and members of the public are invited to the museum anytime during open hours. It is open six days a week, with regular hours Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For Saturday activities, free parking is available in the adjacent lot, south of the building.
Funding for Saturday events is provided by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services. More information about the IMLS is available online (www.imls.gov).
For more information about this event, call museum staff at (435) 797-7545 or visit the museum website (anthromuseum.usu.edu).
The Museum of Anthropology is part of the Anthropology Program at USU.