The completed Fort Lupton is manned on event occasions by historic re-enactors who
invite the participation of visitors. The fur trade era is depicted with demonstrations
such as survival skills of saddle- and harness-making, leather tanning, blacksmithing,
open hearth cooking, woodworking, clothing making, and food preserving, all designed to
educate the visitors.
The Visitor Center/Museum/Research Center houses a gift shop, a multipurpose room with a
capacity for 200 people, a museum, a library, a research laboratory, a facility for
catering meals, and restrooms. The Society's offices where administrative functions are
carried out, as well as maintenance of the Society's web site, and the Society's
technology center where historic photos and documents are digitized, researched, and
prepared for posting to the web site are housed in the Center. The Visitor Center is the
cultural center of the community where fees for tours and/or events are collected.
The restored 1875 Independence School is used regularly to introduce children to schools
of the nineteenth century. Social events such as, box socials, debates, recitations,
"programs," and spelling bees common to the era are held in the evenings and on
weekends.
The restored Donelson Homestead House is the focal point of the Historic Farm, with daily
life portrayed by re-enactors or volunteers. Living history that may involve the visitors
includes planting, gardening, harvesting, "putting food by," cooking, baking,
serving meals to harvest crews, and an occasional quilting party.
The remaining buildings of the Historic Farm include a barn, a chicken house, and a root
cellar.
The Rendezvous Area affords camping opportunities in a wooded setting, not only for 1840s
fur trade re-enactors at scheduled rendezvous but also for other groups by
pre-arrangement. There is supervised week-long camping for youths who are joined by
parents over a weekend. Tepees furnish the theme for the primitive nature of the
activities and are available for rent by tourists wishing to experience fur-trade life.
The upgraded Black Powder Shooting Range has berms restored for safety. This range is used
primarily for events sponsored by the Tallow River Trappers Black Powder Club. It is also
available to the Weld County 4-H Shooting Sports project, and 4-H members volunteer to
work on projects as needed.
Scout Island, which was named based on the fact that in the early 1900s it was an
adventure for Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops to traverse the river by means of a swinging
footbridge near the Platteville Ditch headgate to reach the island. This access has been
rebuilt for traditional camping and picnicking by youth groups.
