By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES – If you've ever wondered what life was like in this area in the 1700s, you will have an opportunity to find out.
The Fort St. Joseph Museum, along with Western Michigan University, will host an Open House at the dig site of the old Fort St. Joseph on Saturday and Sunday June 23 and June 24 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The public is invited to attend this event, which will showcase open excavations, an outdoor museum, a display of artifacts that have been found and a living history village.
"There is a lot going on in those two days," Carol Bainbridge, Director at the Fort St. Joseph Museum said.
During the two-day event, archaeologist from Western Michigan will be on site doing excavation work and giving informational lectures. Head archaeologist for the project Dr. Nassaney of Western Michigan University will also be present.
Demonstrations of life in "New France," will be featured, as well as crafts and activities for youth and a display of recently uncovered artifacts.
"They will have cooking demonstrations, colonial ceramics and throwing pottery and furniture and lifestyles of the fort inhabitants will be on display. This will really give people a good overview of what people ate, wore and how they lived in our area in the 1700s," Bainbridge said.
The Archaeology Open House is open to the public. Along with the dig site, other events will be going on at the park located by the dam.