Pioneer Days opened at the Pioneer Museum of Alabama in Troy Friday with nearly 600 students from around the area enjoying a hands-on history learning experience.

Pioneer Days will continue today with demonstrations and exhibits that include everything from biscuit baking to blacksmithing and a variety of campsites to visit.

Elaine Daniels, a first grade teacher at Newton Elementary School, said her students learned a lot about the old ways and had a great time doing it.

“The children were fascinated by so many different things,” Daniels said. “The boys especially liked the Civil War and Native American exhibits. They were very interested in the outdoor toilet. They wanted to know where the water was and how the toilets were flushed.”

Daniels said it was a good learning experience for the children, and she definitely wants to bring her students back next year.

Monica Pugh of Montgomery home schools her children and they have been studying pioneer life and Pioneer Day was a perfect compliment to their studies.

“This is a wonderful learning event for all ages,” she said. “We have several home-school groups here and this is something that we will certainly want to do again.”

The students spent a lot of time visiting the different campsite and learning about pioneer days from folks like Davy Crockett who shared stories of his boyhood.

“When I was a young boy, I got in trouble with my daddy and he was going to give me a good licking,” Crockett told a group of young boys. “I ran from him and he ran after me. Soon he got tired and had to stop. I kept going and ran away from home.”

Crockett said about two years later he returned and his own family didn’t recognize him.

“Not until my sister, Betsy, said ‘Lawd, that’s Davey!’ That’s why I named my gun Betsy – after my sister.”

Stories were shared at each campsite and will be again today when Pioneer Days continues.

Bruce Brennan’s 2B Wild West Show features trick roping demonstrations and tales right out of the Old West. The War Between the States campsite will feature a field hospital and the Chuckle Wagon Gang keep kids and adults giggling.

Alabama artist Jack Deloney will be featured at a book signing from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. and Broken Strings Bluegrass Band will entertain at 1 p.m.

Everyone is invited to Pioneer Days. The gates open at 9 a.m. and close at 5 p.m.

Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $4 for students, grades K-12.

Admission to Pioneer Days also includes admission the museum that houses thousands of artifacts.