Conservation district turns back the clock: Visitors will hit Trail of History in McHenry County

Know a lot about the good old days in northern Illinois? Have a secret longing to be a French fur trader?

Whether or not the answer is yes, McHenry County is perfectly willing to bring the 1670s through 1850s to life for 2 days with its 21st annual Trail of History, Oct. 17 and 18.

The clock turns back at Glacial Park, part of McHenry County Conservation District between McHenry and Richmond on state Route 31.

From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days, the journey into the past begins with a 1-mile walk among prairie grass and colorful trees. As visitors make this journey, they won’t be alone. Guides in costume will be there to talk about the cultural and natural history of the region.

Arriving at a large campground and armed with information, the visitors can take a deep breath of the smells of time gone by: wood smoke’s pungent odor or the enticing smells of food cooking over the fire. They’ll hear the chip, chip of fur traders making a birch bark canoe or the distinct splash of those same canoes going into Nippersink Creek to begin a trading voyage.

Whether the voyagers of the fur trade or the settlers of the encampment pique interest, the trail’s end will make learning fun. Re-enactors will remain in character throughout the day, so don’t expect them to know what a car is or what that tiny gadget called a cell phone is supposed to do.

Activities range from learning about military tactics in the French and Indian War to dentistry and medicine during the Revolutionary War.

Children will have their choice of pioneer games to play and can have their photos taken in frontier-style costumes. They may even learn how to make candles or corn-husk dolls.

Making work fun, the kids can sign up to at the apprentice servant station and roll up their sleeves. They’ll haul water, beat rugs, wash dishes, and perform other chores, probably without complaint.

If there’s any fear about going hungry, visitors can relax. Pioneer food is on hand in the form of buffalo burgers, turkey legs, chowder, kettle corn and root beer. But they might be distracted from their food by musicians, fortune tellers, dancers, and people selling potions and elixirs guaranteed to cure their aching bones – all inhabiting three stages at the encampment.