Kites and Currents

The Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center near Williston will host a Confluence Learning Lab, “Kites and Currents,” on Saturday, April 25, 2-3 p.m. This interactive family-friendly program explores the science of weather and communication through hands-on activities. Build and decorate your own kite or bring a kite from home to test outdoors.

The program also highlights the history of the U.S. Army Signal Corps and its role in early weather forecasting. Learn how weather observations were recorded using tools such as anemometers, barometers, and thermometers, and then create simple weather reports from data you collect.

Discover how these reports were shared across long distances. Activities include using a telegraph to send a simple message and learning how to communicate with signal flags to send and decode basic messages.

This event is part of the ND250 commemoration celebrating our country’s 250th birthday.

Fort Buford State Historic Site and the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center are managed by the State Historical Society of North Dakota. The Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center is open Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and closed Sunday-Monday. Fort Buford is closed for the season. Summer hours begin May 1, with both locations open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through Sept. 30. For more information, contact Outreach Coordinator Nicholas Kusnierek, [email protected] or 701.572.9034. All times listed are Central time. Find information about upcoming programs of the State Historical Society at history.nd.gov/events.