Wilson’s Creek 150th Anniversary

11/28/2010

Planning for the Foundation's 150th Anniversary Commemoration and Reenactment of the Battle of Wilson's Creek is now well underway, with committees formed and working diligently on various aspects of the event. Sub-Committees in place so far include Fundraising, Concessions, Civilian Activities, Period Crafts, Preliminary Events, Old-Time Activities, Education, Marketing, Safety, Parking, Membership, Technology, Family Camping, Volunteer Coordination, Site Management, Concert, Legal, and Publications. We still need additional help with several of these activities, so please consider getting involved.

The Foundation has signed an agreement with the Blue-Gray Alliance, a national reenactor organization, to handle all military aspects of the reenactment, including helping with battle scenarios, organizing reenactors for battles, assigning camp sites, and assisting with registration and check-in. Individuals and groups wishing to participate can register at www.wilsonscreek150.com. The fee to register is $20 per person; 14 and under are free.

An excellent site adjacent to the battlefield has been selected for the reenactment and all other scheduled events, activities, and exhibits. Negotiations with the landowners are currently underway. The Foundation is also working with the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau and several other marketing partners to publicize the event, and anticipation is already growing for this full-scale Civil War anniversary commemoration. The last Foundation-sponsored reenactment of the Battle of Wilson's Creek, which took place in 1991, attracted over 2,000 reenactors and more than 30,000 spectators. We expect a much larger response for this sesquicentennial occasion. Tickets for the event will go on sale after January 1, 2011, through several local venues and online.

In addition to the reenactment, many other community groups are planning Civil War themed events during 2011, including The Springfield-Greene County Library, the History Museum, the Missouri Literary Festival, the Civil War Round Table of the Ozarks, and local universities and schools. Wilson's Creek Foundation will be partnering with several of these organizations to facilitate an emphasis on Civil War history for the sesquicentennial.

The Foundation will soon begin seeking corporate sponsors to underwrite costs for various aspects of the reenactment, as well as inviting supporters to become members of the Missouri Brigade at several different levels. This fundraising campaign will allow us to use proceeds from event admissions and reenactor fees to support projects benefiting the battlefield, including a Visitor Center addition to house the Civil War Museum, land preservation efforts, and educational programs, as well as other improvements and activities.

If you would like more information or you are interested in helping with the 150th Commemoration and Reenactment, please contact us here

Wilson's Creek Reenactment Planned for 2011 

2/7/2010

The Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Foundation has begun planning a maximum-effort Civil War reenactment to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Wilson's Creek. The reenactment will take place during the weekend of August 12-14, 2011.

Excitement is already building for the Civil War sesquicentennial, and as the second major battle of the war, Wilson's Creek compels a great deal of attention in the reenactment community. The Blue-Gray Alliance, a reenactor organization, will help design battle scenarios and handle all military aspects of the reenactment.

Due to the high level of interest, the Blue-Gray Alliance anticipates that this will be a well-attended event, with more than 3,000 reenactors and huge crowds of spectators. Although a location has not yet been selected, it will be held as close to Wilson's Creek National Battlefield as possible. Watch for more details and updates on the official 150th Anniversary web site www.wilsonscreek150.com.

 
Information gathered from Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Foundation and Official 150th Site