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Colonial Rebels and British Loyalists Will Clash at "Soldiers of the Revolution," August 18 & 19

by Charlotte Clark

Witness the American Revolution on the Niagara Frontier

Tue, Aug 7th 2018 12:00 pm
The British will clash with the colonial rebels at Soldiers of the Revolution, Aug. 18 and 19, at Old Fort Niagara. Battle demonstrations happen at 2 p.m. both days.
The British will clash with the colonial rebels at Soldiers of the Revolution, Aug. 18 and 19, at Old Fort Niagara. Battle demonstrations happen at 2 p.m. both days.
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(August 7, 2018) Youngstown, N.Y. – Old Fort Niagara’s busy season of reenactments continues with Soldiers of the Revolution, August 18 and 19, when the fort’s staff and volunteers will work with visiting reenacting units to share history from the American Revolution on the Niagara Frontier. During this event, visitors will gain an understanding of early America through the perspectives of the colonial rebels versus those who remained loyal to the British crown, called loyalists.

 

“‘Soldiers of the Revolution’ is the last of the weekend-long reenactments of the season,” said Robert Emerson, Executive Director of the Old Fort Niagara Association. “It’s been our pleasure to welcome new and returning visitors to our large French and Indian War and the War of 1812 encampments this summer, and we invite them back to round out their knowledge of the fort by learning about the American Revolution on the Niagara Frontier.”

 

Visitors will have opportunities to meet soldier and civilian reenactors from the American and British camps, watch artillery and battle demonstrations, join a tour and learn about the conflict, listen to fifes and drums play period music, peek in on British justice practices and Native ransoms, pick sides for a mock wooden-musket battle, and play period games. Activities begin at 10 a.m. and continue throughout the day.

 

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

 

Please note that visitors should arrive an hour before battles to allow time to get through admissions and to the viewing areas.

 

10:00 a.m.      Formation and Colors Ceremony: Reenactors assemble and present their colors (flags)

10:15 a.m.      Manual Exercise: Soldiers practice their skills

10:30 a.m.      Special Tour: Fort Niagara in the American Revolution

11:00 a.m.      Native Refugees: Learn about the fort’s importance to Native refugees during the American Revolution

11:30 a.m.      Rifle vs. Musket: Learn about the differences between these weapons

Noon              Artillery Firing Demonstration: Watch the cannons fire!

1:00 p.m.        Music of the American Revolution: Listen to a concert of fifes and drums

1:30 p.m.        British Military Justice: Watch a demonstration of how the British would punish a soldier for misbehavior

2:00 p.m.        Battle Reenactment: The Colonial Rebels and British Loyalist will fight with muskets and artillery

2:30 p.m.        Prisoner Ransom: Native loyalists will bring an American prisoner into the fort where he’ll be ransomed by the British Indian Dept.

3:00 p.m.        Recruiting for Kids: Soldiers will recruit visitors to join the loyalist and rebel armies (kid friendly)

3:30 p.m.        18th Century Games: Soldiers will invite the public to play games (kid friendly)

4, 5 & 6 p.m.  Musket Firing Demonstrations

 

The Officers’ Club, just outside the fort's footprint, will be open during Soldiers of the Revolution from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. for tours and access to the World War II display. The lighthouse will also be open from noon to 3 p.m.

 

Food, snacks, drinks and ice cream will be available for sale each day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the log cabin.

 

The cost to attend the event is $13 for adults, $9 for children ages 6-12, free for children 5 and under, and free to members of the Old Fort Niagara Association.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE FORT:

 

LIGHTHOUSE Open the Public through October 9 (12-3 p.m. daily)

Free admission for visitors; must be at least 4 feet tall and sign a waiver

 

HEARTH COOKING CLASS, September 22 and November 3 (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

Prepare an 18th-century meal at the fort! Instruction, ingredients and meal provided. $50/person ($45/member) Call (716) 745-7611 to register.

 

Old Fort Niagara (www.oldfortniagara.org) is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in July and August. Admissions end 30 minutes before closing. Old Fort Niagara is a Registered National Historic Landmark and New York State Historic Site operated by the Old Fort Niagara Association (a not-for-profit organization) in cooperation with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Hours of Operation

January 13 through March, Open Wednesday-Sunday  10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m

April 1- June 30, Open Daily 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

July and August, Open Daily 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

September 1 - October 15, Open Daily 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

October 16 - December 31, Open Wednesday through Sunday (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays) 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

The fort will be open daily during Christmas week, December 26 - 31. 

Closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. 

 

General Admission

Adults:

$20.00

Children (6 to 12 years) 

$12.00

Children (5 and under):

  FREE

 

 

 

 

Support the Fort

Old Fort Niagara is operated by the Old Fort Niagara Association, an independent, not-for-profit organization established in 1927. We do not rely on tax dollars. Instead, the Fort is funded through a combination of admission fees, museum shop sales, and charitable contributions.

Donate today!

 

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