Sacagawea, who accompanied Lewis and Clark on their expedition into the West in 1805, has inspired countless enduring myths and legends and will be the subject of a free historical program being presented at Cacapon Resort State Park on Friday, May 26.
The program, which begins at 7:30 p.m. in the park lodge, will include a first-person portrayal of Sacagawea performed by Mary Dailey and will feature Berkeley Springs water and cookies baked fresh at Cacapon restaurant.
The program is free and open to the public, according to park naturalist Renee Fincham.
When Lewis and Clark hired Sacagawea’s French-Canadian husband as an interpreter, she became the lone female member of the corps and gave birth to a son, whom she cared for on the grueling journey to the Pacific, Fincham said.
Her ability to communicate with tribes they encountered and her knowledge of the landscape made her a valuable member of the expedition, and Dailey’s portrayal will include often-overshadowed details of Sacagawea’s journey.
The program will be presented in costume and will include an opportunity for audience questions and comments. It is part of the History Alive! Program, which provides portrayals of historical figures by presenters who have conducted scholarly research on their characters.
The History Alive! program is made possible by the West Virginia Humanities Council and West Virginia State Parks programming services.
Cacapon State Park, located near Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, on U.S. 522, boasts a world-class lodge and conference area as well as vacation cabins, a golf course, swimming areas, fishing, hiking, stables, restaurant and a nature center.
The park, which turns 80 years old in 2017, was one of the state’s first parks developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Learn more about the park at www.cacaponresort.com or by calling 304-258-1022.
