First Evening Cannon Firing at Fort Frederica National Monument October 21, 2006.

Date: October 10, 2006
Contact: Jon Burpee, 912-638-3639

The National Park Service at Fort Frederica National Monument is pleased to announce the details of a new type of interpretive program at the park. On October 21, 2006 at 7:30 p.m., the Fort Frederica cannon crew will give its first night time public interpretive program and cannon firing demonstration. The crew is made up of local volunteers who dedicate their time to help share the stories that make Fort  Frederica unique.

The program is made possible by the purchase of a reproduction British cannon earlier this year. Funding for the cannon and its accoutrements was made possible through visitor entrance fees.

According to park ranger Jon Burpee the night time is the right time to really experience eighteenth century artillery. “Experiencing cannon demonstrations at night gives you the full sense of the power of artillery. Visitors are impressed by the loud noise of a daytime cannon firing, but at night they are amazed at the amount of fire a gun produces.” In addition to demonstrating the firing of the cannon, the program will share the story of the strategy and intrigue behind the selection of this part of the Golden Isles for the main British garrison of the south.

The cannon demonstrations join park programs that demonstrate musket firing and living history programs at the Bloody Marsh unit of the park.