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Contact: Casey J. Osback, 307-837-2221 #3011
Fort Laramie National Historic Site will come alive as park staff and volunteers present a weekend of living history programs, demonstrations and an infantry camp along the Laramie River on August 12th and 13th, 2023.This special living history weekend is traditionally one of the fort’s most popular summer activities. The living history weekend will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday August 12th with an infantry living history camp near the barracks. Historians in the camp will be dressed in period clothing performing the duties of enlisted soldiers during the 19th century. Throughout the day, soldiers will be involved in various activities including the School of the Soldier, Manual of Arms, and fatigue details. Ranger historians will also be presenting education-based programs on the various aspects of Fort Laramie’s history. The historic buildings district will be openthroughout the day. Historic weapons demonstrations will be scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. The living history weekend will continue through Sunday, August 13th until 12:00 p.m.
On Saturday evening, a ranger led “Lantern Tour” of the infantry camp along with the historic buildings district will begin at 7:00 p.m. Living historian Marla Matkin will start the evening with her presentation entitled, “Let’s hear it for the ladies, Elizabeth Custer and Elizabeth Burt.” This presentation will focus on two dynamic wives of military officers, Lt. Col. George A. Custer (7th United States Cavalry) and Lt. Col. Andrew S. Burt (7th United States Infantry). After a short intermission, and as the sun begins to fade, tour guides will take participants though a series of vignettes depicting life at the “old” post. The magic then begins as visitors are transported back through time as they encounter many of the characters associated with the rich history of Fort Laramie. Traditionally, this event has been one of the Park’s most popular summer programs. “The Fort at night is a truly remarkable experience-an almost threedimensional time-machine taking us back in time and sense of place,” said Casey Osback, Chief of Interpretation & Visitor Services.
In addition to Ms. Matkin, Dr. Dan Holtz will be performing 19th century music in the infantry camp. Dr. Holtz has presented his musical and historical storytelling programs more than 500 times, including performances at Forts Hartsuff, Kearny and Robinson (Nebraska). He has also performed numerous times at the Homestead National Historical Park (Nebraska) and on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, for Nebraska State Day in July of 1999. Dr. Holtz will play music on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and again at 2:00 p.m. with an evening performance during the Moonlight Tour. On Sunday, Dr. Holtz will play at 11:00 a.m. The park encourages visitors to bring a flashlight and suggests that they bring mosquito repellant.
Last updated: August 7, 2023