Civil War Days at Historic Fort Wayne - Detroit
An event that offers MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK!
On Saturday July 7th and Sunday July 8th Civil War Days will be hosted at Historic Fort Wayne - Detroit.Hundreds of Metro Detroiters will be treated to live battles, with thunderous cannons, charging bugles, and smoking muskets.
Leading this charge is the Detroit Recreation Department and the Historic Fort Wayne Coalition (HFWC).
All-day admission is $3.00 and parking will cost $5 per car.
Along with the HFWC, and volunteers from all of The State of Michigan, re-enactor groups are traveling here from as far away as Illinois, Ohio, Southern Indiana, and Ontario. There will also be ongoing infantry and artillery demonstrations, along with the 5th Michigan Regimental Band (Sat Only), crafts, blacksmithing, and a vintage baseball game (Saturday & Sunday). Other major attractions include civilian, union, and confederate camps. All of which will be open for the public to experience.
Visitors will be able to interact with various historical Michigan and national characters such as: Frederick Douglas, Senator Jacob Howard, Harriet Tubman, and Governor Austin Blair. Visitors can also attend presentations Fort Wayne during the Civil War, Fort Wayne and its West Point Connection and the PBS Documentary Least We Forget, 102nd USCT Story as well as Detroit Early History. Historical Civil War artifacts on display, complements of the Detroit Historical Society in the Head Quarters Building.
"No other site in Michigan has what you will see here at Historic Fort Wayne,"
said Tom Berlucchi, Chairman of the Historic Fort Wayne Coalition.1
Historic Fort Wayne is one of a handful of star forts left in the US. The Fort is also one of few remaining sites, in Michigan, where soldiers from the Civil War trained.2
Historic Fort Wayne first opened in 1845 and served as an Army post for nearly 160 years.3
Over 14,000 men and women mustered into service for the Union Army at this site in which 1,480 did not return to Michigan buried in the battle field cemeteries in the South.4 Fort Wayne had a significant role in the Underground Railroad!
5 It was home to the Lend Lease Program that saved Europe in WWII. The Fort was also was the leading induction center, for the military, from The Civil War up to The Vietnam War.
6 Since 2004, the HFWC has been active in the preservation and restoration of Historic Fort Wayne. The Fort also features many Civil War and Fort Wayne specific artifacts from various eras available for viewing – many never seen before.
7
Jim Conway and Dave Jamroz, authors of the Acadia series book, and Detroit's Historic Fort Wayne will be available to autograph their books and discuss their Fort Wayne knowledge.Visitors who would like to learn more about the Fort's history, recent restorations, and/or future plans are encouraged to take a HFWC group tour – tour groups and special guest speakers are meeting at the Fort's Visitor Center near the Main Parking Lot. Group tours are $3 per person. Doors open at 9 am and close at 5 pm Saturday. On Sunday the hours are 9 am and 4 pm.
Historic Fort Wayne is located at 6325 West Jefferson, Detroit MI, 48209, at the foot of Livernois. For additional information, including maps of the Fort, directions, and coalition photos go to www.historicfortwaynecoalition.comThe Historic Fort Wayne Coalition
is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of Historic Fort Wayne and the men and women who passed through the Fort in Detroit, to serve in conflicts for the United States ranging from the Mexican War through Vietnam. Schools, organizations, and groups looking to set up an in-class educational demonstration and/or re-enactment can contact Tom Berlucchi at (248) 840-5234 or Doris Julian at (810) 793-6739. www.historicfortwaynecoalition.com