Date: October 3, 2011
The Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve will present a special event "The Civil War in Jacksonville" Living History Weekend. The event will be held at Fort Caroline National Memorial and will showcase how the Civil War impacted Jacksonville and Northeast Florida during the years 1861-1865. The event will be open and free to the public 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Saturday October 22nd and 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Sunday the 23rd.
The Civil War was fought in all southern states, Florida included, yet few people are aware of the battles and naval engagements that occurred here in Jacksonville. The St. Johns River was blockaded by the Union Navy along with Union gunboats that patrolled as far south as Green Cove Springs.
Living historians in period costumes will portray: infantry soldiers of both the North and the South; including Union gunboat sailors, marines, artillery crews, engineers, and military musicians. Civilian life will also be portrayed showing how ordinary citizens survived during the war. "In showing such a wide variety of aspects of the Civil War this should be an exciting educational event," said the Timucuan Preserve's Barbara Goodman.
"The Civil War impacted Jacksonville greatly during that conflict, and the story of what happened here is little known to most people.This is a wonderful opportunity for visitors to come and learn of our city's significantrole in our nation's greatest conflict," stated Superintendent Barbara Goodman.
Living Historians and park rangers will conduct cannon firing demonstrations on an hourly basis beginning at 10:00 am and ending at 4:00 pm. Musket firing demonstrations will be every half hour beginning at 10:30 am and ending at 3:30 pm on Saturday the 22nd.On Sunday the 23rd cannon firings will be held at 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm.Musket firings will be at 11:30 am, 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm.
At 2:30 p.m. each day the "Golden Tea Cup Society" a living history group that portrays Civilian life in the Civil War will conduct a program about the antebellum hobby of china doll collecting.Using authentic and reproduction dolls, this program will highlight aspects of how ordinary people lived and survived during the war.The group will hold ongoing demonstrations of: sewing, quilting, needle work, spinning, and candle making.
Other demonstrations will include: Military music, camp life, camp cooking and small arms drill.
Craig Morris, NPS
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This event is free and open to the public.
Fort Caroline National Memorial (904.641.7155) is the home of the Timucuan Preserve's Visitor Center.The park is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. seven days a week.It is located at 12713 Ft. Caroline Road, in the East Arlington section of Jacksonville, Florida, 32225.
