Exhibit Openings ~ Heritage League of Pierce County

Fort Nisqually 2010-2011 Exhibits

Lock, Stock, and Barrel: Fort Nisqually's Trade Guns

Exhibit run: August 7 to November 28

Where did the saying “lock, stock and barrel” come from? Find out and get a firrsthand look at Northwest Trade Guns.

The Hudson's Bay Company imported guns to forts in the Pacific Northwest for sale or trade. These guns were primarily used for hunting and are commonly referred to as "Northwest Trade Guns".

At Fort Nisqually's new exhibit Lock, Stock and Barrel: Fort Nisqually's Trade Guns, several fine examples of these guns will be on display, including one that belonged to James McAllister, an American settler.

During the 19th century guns went through a number of technological changes. The guns on display will document the change from the older flint lock to the more advanced percussion cap mechanism. The exhibit will open at the Brigade Encampment on August 7.

Illuminating the Past: Lighting of the 19th Century

Exhibit run: December 4 to April 10, 2011

Peer into the dimly lit world of the early 1800s and see how artificial lighting illuminated the 19th century.

From candles to whale oil to kerosene and finally electricity. The 19th century was increasingly a brighter and brighter world. Come to Fort Nisqually's exhibit, Illuminating the Past: Lighting Fort Nisqually, for a peek into a once dimly lit world progressively becoming less so. The exhibit will open at the 19th Century Christmas on December 4.

Fort Nisqually is a living history museum where volunteers and staff, in period clothing, demonstrate the crafts of the 19th century and engage visitors in historic dialogue during the Living History Days and other events throughout the year. Travel back in time with us and experience life in Washington Territory during the fur trade era. A Hudson's Bay Company outpost built in 1833, Fort Nisqually was the first European settlement on Puget Sound. With a diverse work force of American, English, French Canadian, Hawaiian, Irish, Native American, and Scottish laborers, Fort Nisqually was a bustling center of trade that expanded into a large scale agricultural enterprise.

Located in Tacoma’s Point Defiance Park, Fort Nisqually is a restoration of the Hudson’s Bay Company outpost on the Puget Sound where visitors can travel back in time to the year 1855 and experience life in Washington Territory during the Fur Trade era. The site includes a Visitor Center and Museum Store.

Admission is: Adult - $6, Senior/Active Military/Student- $5, Youth (13-17) - $4, Child (4-12) - $3. For more information, please contact Fort Nisqually at (253) 591-5339 or e-mail fortnisqually@tacomaparks.com .

Check out our website at www.fortnisqually.org.

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