Living History - Memorial Day Weekend at Fort Larned

There's nothing more fun to do while visiting a historic site than to imagine what it was like back in its heyday.  Over Memorial Day Weekend at Fort Larned National Historic Site, you don't have to imagine very hard, as over 70 reenactment volunteers truck in from Texas, Colorado, and all over Kansas to bring the place to life.

Fort Larned's Giant Flag

Although the Fort's use expands well beyond the civil war era, the 1860's is what we went back to over Memorial Day.  All of the park employees partake by dressing up in period gear (which means wool - yes, even in summer - infantry uniforms for the guys and billowing dresses for the girls) and assuming a character.

Chaz, Nathan, and Mike as Soldiers

All of the buildings are open with someone in period dress to talk to you about what went on there back in the day, but my favorite two special events took place outside.  First, it's important to point out that Nathan has a pretty cool job, because he got to do this:



There were also other rifle demonstrations throughout the day.

Rifle Demonstration

Second, a hobby vintage baseball team rolled into town to play the soldiers (park employees) in 1860's-style baseball, complete with a leather ball, no gloves, and old rules like if you catch a fly ball after the first bounce, the batter is out.  I found it pretty interesting to learn some of the jargon and facts from the day.  For instance, most of the reenacters are, by definition, civil war nerds, which makes for some pretty useless baseball players.  In vintage baseball, a person who tries really hard, but still stinks is called a muffin.  Spectators would sit really close to the game with no fences for protection.  If a ball happened to roll under a woman's skirt, depending on which team she was rooting for, she may or may not choose to lift her skirt and make it easy for the players to find the ball.

 Nathan Catching - One of the only experienced baseball players out there

I had a pretty good time at the event and am looking forward to more living history for July 4th weekend (more reenactments including potato sack races) and Labor Day weekend (if I'm not actually in labor).