It’s an American history class for thousands!!
People from across the United States gather each year in California’s Central Valley for an opportunity to experience a bit of mid-nineteenth century American history. The event is The Civil War Revisited and it’s the largest annual Civil War reenactment in the Western United States.
This two-day event is staged in the Fall each year in a 150-acre park setting where you can explore and experience a wonderful array of venues.
- Visit 19th century military and civilian encampments
- Witness Civil War battle reenactments
- Meet and talk with historic characters including Abraham Lincoln, Harriet Tubman, Generals Lee and Grant, Clara Barton, Sojourner Truth and Walt Whitman
- Listen to period folk and military brass music
- Watch and interact with American artisans as they practice their crafts---quilters, spinners & weavers, wheel wrights, woodcarvers, rifle-makers, blacksmiths
- View fashions of the day
- Visit a period field hospital
- Sit in on discussions among military generals
- Attend short outdoor classroom sessions on topics including “The Role of California in the War”, “The Underground Railroad”, “The Common Soldier”, “The Two First Ladies”, and “Children’s Voices from the Civil War”
- Learn a period dance
- Enjoy horses in review as well as horse races
Time Travelers: A Special School Day
It’s a day that makes any teacher’s lesson plan a life-long memory!
Friday prior to the Civil War Revisited weekend, a special school program is staged for 1500 fifth grade and eighth grade students. Its purpose is to capitalize on the period setting that is already in place to immerse students in mid-nineteenth century American history.
Over 100 teachers, re-enactors, musicians, and artisans gather to populate a large array of learning stations placed throughout the venue. As students make their way through these learning stations they engage in face-to-face encounters with historical figures. They discuss issues of moral and social significance. They analyze the origins and outcome of past events. They explore the motivations and feelings of others within a particular historical framework.
It’s an exciting day for students and teachers. It stands to change the way students look at history and interact with it.
For more information about Time Travelers and about opportunities to bring a class of students, contact the Fresno Historical Society (559.441.0862).
Camp Night: An Evening at The Civil War Revisited
Imagine a warm autumn evening and the smells of dinner cooking over an open fire. Imagine rows of white military tents illumined with lantern light. Imagine the sounds of soldiers and civilians gathering for an evening of conversation and celebration. That’s Camp Night.
Spend the evening amid a 19th century setting dining under the stars to the sounds of fiddlers. Join with friends and family visiting with Civil War soldiers, dancing the Virginia Reel and viewing fireworks that fill the sky above this very American setting.
Camp Night is staged Saturday evening of the Civil War Revisited weekend. It’s a relaxed evening for sharing a meal and conversation. It’s a memorable evening. Make plans today to join us.
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