The community can get a sneak peek this month at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, which has been closed since 2020 — first by the pandemic and then for a multi-year renovation to make the center more energy efficient.

Although the center won’t officially reopen until Memorial Day 2024, a “Haunting on the Hill” event on Saturday, Oct. 28, will welcome visitors for some Halloween fun and a glimpse at the center.

Sarah Sherman, project manager, has said that most infrastructure changes won’t be obvious to visitors.

The $6.5 million project at the center, 5 miles east of Baker City and owned and operated by the Bureau of Land Management, started in March 2022. It includes new siding, insulation, roofing, windows and doors, as well as upgraded heating and cooling systems.

About 16% of the project is funded by the Great American Outdoors Act.

The renovation is expected to reduce energy consumption by 73% — prior to the work, the center’s electric bill averaged $10,000 per month, and the structure was the least efficient building managed by the BLM, according to a national survey.

‘Haunting on the Hill’

The first big event at the center in more than three years will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 28. It will be family-friendly and feature spooky stories with Karen Haas, eerie crafts with Crossroads Carnegie Art Center, cider, treats, games and more.

“We’re excited to kick off our partnership with NHOTIC in such a fun way,” said Melody Chaves, education coordinator for Crossroads. “The day will be full of family-friendly fun, and anyone who is interested in a sneak peek of the NHOTIC gallery should join us.”

Friends of NHOTIC

In a partnership founded earlier this year, Crossroads Carnegie Art Center will operate the center’s gift shop, manage marketing and assist with programming when the center reopens in 2024.

Discussions to expand the Crossroads partnership began after Trail Tenders, the center’s primary friends group since the center opened in 1991, disbanded in late 2022.

NHOTIC’s reopening on Memorial Day weekend of 2024 will coincide with Crossroads’ opening of Gary Ernest Smith’s show titled “Towards Home: The People, Places and culture of Eastern Oregon.”

Smith painted the iconic image for the poster of the opening of the National Oregon Trail Interpretive Center at Flagstaff Hill in May 1992. The original is in the permanent collection of the Booth Museum in Cartersville, Georgia.

Access to the ruts

The center’s trail system, including a route to Oregon Trail ruts, continues to be available along Highway 86.

From Baker City, this turnout is 4.25 miles from the freeway’s exit 302.