"A Few More Photos from July, 2009 Civil War Battle" Willamette Mission State Park Travelogue by glabah

One of the more eccentric activities at Willamette Mission State Park is the annual Civil War Battle Re-Enactment, which draws people for quite some distance and is certainly the largest crowd draw to happen in the park.

Here, during the thick of the battle we can see a cannon being delivered by horse to the battlefield. On the right, you can also see just how close the crowd is able to get to the "action" happening on the battlefield.

It is fairly impressive that none of the horses seem to be particularly frightened of all the noise, but then I suppose they spend a lot of time around this type of thing, just as horses from that era would have done.

Women illustrate Civil War era outfits as history

Period dress is naturally a requirement of all those participating in the Civil War Battle Re-Enactment. About the only thing that you see here that wouldn't have been around at the time of the Civil War is the paved bike path.

(At that time, what is now Willamette Mission State Park would have gone through a huge amount of change due to the great flood of 1861, but of course Civil War battles were never fought here.)

This is all part of creating a temporary "living history museum" at Willamette Mission State Park.

It should be understood that some items here you do NOT want to touch. As part of a living history museum (albeit a temporary one) many of the items here are in fact genuine antiques, family heirlooms, etc. and are of extremely high value.

vendors are required to be Civil War era materials

Perhaps somewhat less obvious, though certainly an appreciated, aspect to creating a "living history" museum for the Civil War Battle Re-Enactment is a requirement that vendors also be outfitted to fit in.

This includes everything having to be covered in canvas tents (some modern cooking facilities may be trailer mounted, but the trailer must be covered as much as possible) and items sold for the most part must be true to the Civil War era. This includes toys, games, clothing, and various other paraphanelia sold here.

True Civil War camping facilities also required

Anything within the zone of the Civil War Battle Re-Enactment is required to be true to the era. That means tent camping and very little privacy, particularly for those who are playing the role of being very low in rank.

"Civilians" who camp in the "historic" camp area are also required to be in historic dress and camp in correct camping facilities.

However, for those who wish to camp using modern equipment, it is possible to do so, so long as they keep the non-historic material outside the historic battlefield area.

historic camping equipment, outfits required

Anything within the zone of the Civil War Battle Re-Enactment is required to be true to the era. That means tent camping and very little privacy, particularly for those who are playing the role of being very low in rank.

"Civilians" who camp in the "historic" camp area are also required to be in historic dress and camp in correct camping facilities.

However, for those who wish to camp using modern equipment, it is possible to do so, so long as they keep the non-historic material outside the historic battlefield area.

explaining the camp to wandering tourists

Anything within the zone of the Civil War Battle Re-Enactment is required to be true to the era.

Tents that are closed are not open for visitors or tourists. However, those that are open may receive visitors, where those who reside there during the re-enactment will explain all the various equipment, items, and aspects of a working camp from that era.

Camps are officially closed during the battle action, as that activity requires everyone to participate, more or less.

non-profit groups of era part of living in history

As part of the simulation with the Civil War Battle Re-Enactment, a significant number of true to era facilities, including non-profit civilian organizations, are also part of the civilian encampment that is some distance from the military camps.

Many of those here will explain their particular role in this part of the living history display.

The people in charge of this particular non-profit explained how those involved, some of which were not Christian ministers, but religious leaders of various sorts, would help look after the injured during and after a battle.

Portable camping stoves of 150 years ago are heavy

As much as possible, modern conveniences are left out of the Civil War Battle Re-Enactment, and that includes portable camping equipment from the modern era. Instead, meals must be cooked on these heavy, cumbersome, hot, difficult wood burning stoves.

On a summer day when temperatures were ver hot, cooking for the crew is probably not the most pleasant thing to be doing!

Then, there is all the smoke.

About the only nod to modern times allowed in the camps are portable toilets, and we should be thankful for that! In the days of the Civil War, a huge number of the troops were lost due to poor sanitation practices.