Southeast Region Activities and Events

National Park Service
2006 Park Visitor Information

Southeast Region

Andersonville National Historic Site, GA
Memorial Day Commemorations At Andersonville May 27, 2006 - May 29, 2006, Joan Stibitz, 229-924-0343, Alan Marsh, 229-924-0343 - Placement of individual American flags in the National Cemetery, Saturday, May 27th, beginning at 8:30. Youth Groups interested in participating should contact the park. Memorial Motorcycle Ride sponsored by the US Military Veterans Motorcycle Club, Saturday May 27th, 1pm arrival at site. Ride begins at Jughead Cycles, Byron, GA. For more info contact Jughead Cycles at 478-956-4777. The National Park Service will conduct the annual Memorial Day Memorial Service on Sunday, May 28th at 2 pm, including speakers and presentation of wreaths. A short band concert of patriotic music will precede the ceremony, beginning at 1:30 pm. Memorial Day Mass, National Cemetery, Monday, May 29th at 11 am.
Memorial Luminary, November 11, 2006 - Plans are underway to present a Luminary at the historic prison site on November 11, 2006. Candles will be placed within the prison site honoring the nearly 13,000 Union Soldiers who died at Andersonville. Confederate soldiers who died on duty as guards will also be honored. Program times will be announced at a later date. Volunteers are needed to assist with this program. Youth groups, Civic groups and individuals are invited to help. Please contact the park at 229-924-0343, extension 201 for information on volunteering.

De Soto National Memorial, FL
467th Commemoration - of de Soto Expedition - The public is invited to join the park in two days of activities on Saturday, May 27 th and Sunday, May 28 th to commemorate the 467 th anniversary of the beginning of the Hernando de Soto expedition. This particular Entrada (Spanish for first expedition and conquest of a country) began some 467 years ago when Spanish conquistadors, horses, and war dogs splashed ashore in the lower Tampa Bay area on May 30, 1539. What followed were violent encounters with Native Americans while searching fruitlessly for a civilization possessing gold and jewels like the Aztecs of Mexico or the Incas of Peru. Four years later, with de Soto dead and half his men gone, the expedition found its way back to Spanish settlements in Mexico. Eventually the descriptions of new peoples and abundant lands provided by survivors would help to inspire other Europeans to colonize North America.

Saturday, May 27th:

9:30 - Ranger Talk - What Brought de Soto Here? Meet at the Visitor Center beach (prior to boat landing).
9:45 – 10:45 - The Landing - Be there as de Soto and his army begin their four year, four thousand mile odyssey! Conquistador Walk – Join the conquistadors, on a walk through the mangroves to Camp Uzita with stops along the way to discuss life in “La Florida.”
11:00 - De Soto’s Cavalry – Join our volunteer Heidi May for an exciting Cavalry demonstration. Meet the descendants of the horses that de Soto brought (Paso Fino) and discover how they were used.
11:45 - Warriors: Tools of the Trade – See (and hear) a matchlock musket (called the arquebus) being fired along with other period weapons demonstrated.
1:00 - Piñata Demonstration - Celebrate the 467th Anniversary of de Soto’s expedition 16th century style with a demonstration and the history of the piñata (fun for kids!)
2:00 - Words from a Woman - Join a ranger to learn the story of the women on the expedition; those they met, those who went and those who were left behind.
3:00 - Ranger Talk - The Legacy of the de Soto Expedition – Meet for the final program in Camp Uzita.

Sunday, May 28th:

10:00 - Ranger talk - de Soto before La Florida
11:00 - Warriors: Tools of the Trade – See (and hear) a matchlock musket (called the arquebus) being fired along with other period weapons demonstrated.
12:00 - La Comida - Volunteer Shelia Benjamin talks about the delights of a 16th Century Spanish kitchen!
1:00 - Captured by Indians!-The Juan Ortiz Story – Learn the exciting story of
Hernando de Soto’s chief translator, Juan Ortiz, by noted local archaeologist, Bill Burger.
2:00 - Cross in the Sand- Join our volunteer “Friar” Ted Bonstedt in Camp Uzita as he tells the fascinating tale of the priests on de Soto’s expedition.
3:00 - Ranger talk - The Legacy of the de Soto Expedition.

Special Program in the Bishop Planetarium, South Florida Museum

5:00 p.m.W.D. Sugg Memorial Speaker Series-de Soto, The Man and The Myth – To be held at the Bishop Planetarium, South Florida Museum. Noted author, Charles R. Ewen, PhD, Professor, Department of Anthropology and Director, ECU Archaeology Laboratories, will present a program titled, “Conquistadors and Pirates: The Archaeology of Celebrities.” Dr. Ewen will be available, after his presentation, to autograph copies of, Hernando de Soto Among the Apalachee: The Archaeology of the First Winter Encampment and his new release X Marks the Spot: The Archaeology of Piracy.” RSVP-Limited Seating 746-4131, Ext. 20.

Kings Mountain National Military Park, SC
Military Through the Ages, May 28-29 - Military through the ages will have soldiers representing each of the nation's conflicts discuss their weaponry and equipment.

Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, NC
Living History Weekend, May 27, 2006 - 18th century military and civilian life demonstrations performed by the Guilford Militia. Tour Stop 6.
Bird Walk, June 24, 2006 - Join members of the Piedmont Bird Club for a guided walk and discover some of the feathered friends in the park. Tour Stop 5.

Mammoth Cave National Park, KY
Wonders of America”, May 27 - The US Post Office will issue a sheet of 40 stamps called Wonders of America”. One of the stamps will commemorate the park. A ceremony will be held from 9-10 a.m. and there will be a first day cancellation station set up underground in the cave.

Natchez Trace Parkway, MS
Pioneer Day at the Natchez Trace Parkway, June 3, 2006 - The Tombigbee Pioneer Group will perform living history demonstrations at the Natchez Trace Parkway's Tupelo Visitor Center (located at Milepost 266), from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 3, 2006. The public is invited to watch pioneer lifestyle activities that will include corn shuck doll making, basket weaving, beading, and quill pen demonstrations. A longhunters program will be presented involving early medicines. Leatherworking and mountain dulcimer demonstrations will also be offered throughout the day. Children are invited to participate by dressing up in pioneer clothes and trying these activities firsthand. This program is free to the public. For additional information, please call the Parkway Visitor Center at: 662-680-4027 or 1-800-305-7417.

Gulf Islands National Seashore, FL
Florida District Program Schedule: May 21 through July 30, 2006

Fort Pickens Area
Visitor Center open intermittently Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., closed July 15.

Ranger guided tours (30 – 45 minutes) Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Fourth of July weekend, July 1 – 4, 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
No tours on Saturday, July 15.

Barrier Island Walk (45 minutes) Meet at the bulletin board at Fort Pickens entrance gate. Saturday at 10:00 a.m., June 3, 24, July 1, 8, 22, 29

Island Treasures (1 hour) Meet at the bulletin board at Fort Pickens entrance gate. Saturday at 2:00 p.m. June 3, 24, July 1, 8, 22, 29

Naval Live Oaks Area
Seeing Sea life(45 minutes) Meet at Naval Live Oaks Visitor Center
Wet activity, water shoes recommended. Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m., May 30, June 6, 13, 20, 27, July 11, 18, 25

Junior Ranger Day Camp - Wednesdays, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Children ages 8 – 11, Call (850) 916-3001 for reservations. May 31, June 7, 21, 28, July 12, 19, 26

Orientation slide program - (12 minutes) available on request

Beaches, Bays, Sounds, and Bayou video - (30 minutes) available on request

Trees for Defense video - (20 minutes) available on request

Documentary films (45 to 90 minutes) Saturday and Sundays at 2:00 p.m., Ken Burn’s, The American Civil War. Call 934-2600 for more information.

Fort BarrancasArea
Ranger guided tours (30 – 45 minutes) Daily at 2:00 p.m.

Advanced Redoubt

Ranger guided tours(30 – 45 minutes) Saturdays at 11:00 a.m.

Perdido Key Area
Bird Walks (1 hour) Meet at the bulletin board. Sundays at 8:00 a.m., June 4, 18, July 2, 16, 30,

Snorkeling (1.5 hours) Meet at the bulletin board. Call (850) 455-5167 for reservations.
Mondays at 10:00 a.m., June 5, 19, 26, July 10, 17, 24,
Thursdays at 10:00 a.m., June 1, 8, 22, July 6, 13, 20, 27

Island Treasures (1 hour) Meet at the bulletin board. Mondays at 2:00 p.m.,
June 5, 19, 26, July 10, 17, 24, 31
Thursdays at 2:00 p.m., June 8, 22, July 6, 13, 20, 27

Sun block, water and hats recommended for all outdoor programs. All programs are free; however, there is an $8 entrance fee at Perdido Key. All programs are subject to change. Call Naval Live Oaks Visitor Center at (850) 934-2600 for updated information or visit our website at www.nps.gov/guis. Naval Live Oaks Visitor Center is open daily 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace NHS, KY
Birthplace Unit - Ranger Guided Tours Daily at 10:20, 1:20, 2:20, and 3:20
Walk through the Parks:
May 13, Boyhood Home – see what’s in bloom
June 10, Birthplace – see the new Family Statue
August 12, LaRue County Environmental Education and Research Center (Pearman Farm)
September 9, Hodgenville Creekfront Park
September 20, 2006 “A Walk Through Lincoln’s Life

Lincoln Boyhood Home Unit: At Knob Creek - Ranger Program Daily at 2:00 PM
View or walk through the Boyhood Home’s Garden

Lincoln ’s Bicentennial Kick-off Event will take place at the Birthplace Site February 12, 2008. Mark your calendar!