2. “Your “living history” presentation was a most interesting and fascinating hands
-on way to learn the history of the Oregon Trail. ...This was Heidi’s first presen-
tation and she was passionate and inspiring. ”
Gail Rotheiser
-A visitor from Illinois
3. “We met the employee Heidi who gave us a warm welcome and introduced us to
the world of the Oregon emigrants. ... She did a great job. ... We will recom-
mend this to our friends.”
-Walter & Renee
Visitors from Germany
4. “Women’s pioneer clothing presentation draws a crowd”
Newspaper article on a presentation I gave on fashion vs practicality in Oregon
Trail fashion to a standing room only crowd. I pride myself on engaging my audi-
ence and helping them think about history and fashion in a whole new way.
5. Kay Demlow warned me
this was not a “dress in a
day” dress, but in spite of
the fact I lacked the skills
required, I was determined
to improve my personal
interpreter wardrobe.
This is the result.
Dress-in-a-Day
workshop
Champoeg park
6. I proposed, planned and executed this Petticoat sewing project day.
In one afternoon, our volunteers and I revolutionized our site’s stock interpreter
wardrobe with 6 new petticoats.
7. An important part of how I present history involves me experiencing it for myself
so I can relate their stories in a lifelike and engaging way.
8. Props and demonstrations help children visualize the lives of real people like
themselves. I would ask children to sit inside this crate and experience the
perils of Rose Jackson’s trip across the Oregon Trail in a box for themselves as I
rattled the box to simulate the bumpy trip.
9. Besides school groups, I also have experience mentoring students of all ages in
one-on-one, hands on events designed to bring them a better understanding of
our history and those who lived it.
10. I trained the girl in pink to interpret history to the public in a summer long
internship. This event was her final project where she was required engage the
public with the information and techniques she learned over the summer.
Our demonstration ended up as the cover photo for the newspaper story about
our event.
11. I’ve had experience doing both first person and third person interpreting. Here, I
am portraying a recently widowed Oregon Trail pioneer fresh off the trail, begging
for work from the Hudson’s Bay Company.
12. Portraying in first person, two higher class Hudson’s Bay Company employees
Leticia Work and Edward Huggins on their wedding day in 1857
13. This is a display on motherhood and maternity on the Oregon Trail which I was
heavily involved in producing. Most of the articles in this exhibit are my work.
14. Flexibility is important and
sometimes I have to be creative to
prepare quickly for my next role.
My quick alteration to turn my
1860s dress into something more
appropriate for an 1855
presentation.
15. My latest research has been in mid Victorian mourning. I am always searching
for new research topics to enhance my presentations.
16. In 2012, I was privileged to participate in a photo shoot for artist Heide Presse, so far she
has produced 3 paintings from the two day session with more in progress.
17. Starting in 2014, I became docent chair at the Forest Hill Divide Museum, and established a
living history presence at community celebrations in Foresthill and Georgetown, CA.
