THEIR LEGACY.
YOUR HERITAGE.
OUR STORY.
Living Archaeology Weekend is an award-winning, immersive experience in Kentucky's famous Red River Gorge. Our event uses archaeological evidence to inform diverse demonstrations of the region's Native and Pioneer technologies and lifeways. Visitors learn about the area's rich cultural traditions and gain insights into past people's lives and experiences.
​
This FREE event is held every year on the third weekend in September in the Red River Gorge. Join us from 9:00am-4:00pm EST on Sept 19-20, 2025 at Hoedown Isand in Natural Bridge State Resort Park for a fun, exciting, educational experience! The Friday program is for pre-registered school groups. The Saturday program is open to the public; registration is not required. Our wide range of educational materials, including a new video series, support educators and students year-round.
"Many students talked about how intelligent the people from the past were.
How today we take so much for granted based upon the things these people figured out the hard way."
-POST-EVENT TEACHER FEEDBACK
Now in its 37th year, Living Archaeology Weekend is organized by the Kentucky Organization of Professional Archaeologists, Kentucky Archaeological Survey, United States Forest Service-Daniel Boone National Forest, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Kentucky Heritage Council, and Kentucky State Parks.
Living Archaeology Weekend 2025 is supported with America250KY funding from the Kentucky Heritage Council, Kentucky Native American Heritage Commission, and the Kentucky Historical Society. For more information, see heritage.ky.gov and history.ky.gov. It has been funded in part by a grant from the National Trust Preservation Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Major funding also is provided by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Powell County Tourism Commission, Stanton Tourism and Convention Commission, and WSP. We appreciate their generous support!
LAW 2025
LAW 2025 will be held at Natural Bridge State Resort Park's Hoedown Island on Friday, Sept 19 (for registered school groups) and Sat, Sept 20 (open to the public).
STUDENTS
Learn how American Indians and Pioneers lived-- right here in Kentucky. What do you have in common with Kentucky kids from 200 years ago? What about 2,000 years ago?
EDUCATORS
Get Kentucky-focused, fact-based content aligned with state standards. And, find lessons and activities to engage students in learning about the technologies demonstrated at LAW.
GENERAL PUBLIC
Join us Sat, Sept 20 from at Natural Bridge State Resort Park's Hoedown Island in the Red River Gorge where we'll explore the fascinating lives and cultures of those who paved the way for our modern lives.
"Learning about the past
is like walking down a beautiful road with knowledge trees."
-OLIVIA RUTH SHORT, 2013 LAW Student Essay Contest Winner
MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to help visitors connect to our past through meaningful, immersive experiences. At Living Archaeology Weekend, we challenge stereotypes about American Indians and Pioneer people by using real, on-site excavation data. We explore the contributions our ancestors made to our lives today-- and honor their legacy by preserving their stories and technologies for future generations.
