Today we’re sharing a nice guide on how to develop your persona for any living history events or presentations.
Why Do you Reenact?
OWL Trekking Checklist - Suzanne Thomson of the Outdoor Wilderness Ladies
Today we wanted to share a great resource from contemporary living historian Suzanne Thomson. Originally developed for her website “The Outdoor Wilderness Ladies”, this checklist lets you plan accordingly for your next trek!
Developing your Historic Persona - Suzanne Thomson of the Outdoor Wilderness Ladies
Today we wanted to share a great resource from contemporary living historian Suzanne Thomson. Originally developed for her website “The Outdoor Wilderness Ladies”, this document walks you through the ins and the outs of developing a historic persona.
How to stop grave robbers in the 18th century
Happy #flintlockfriday! Here’s a look at a flintlock I’ve never seen before. This is an English “Cemetary gun”, used to keep grave robbers away from your newly deceased relatives during the height of medical “study” in Victorian England.
Mounted on a swivel, this beast of a muzzleloader would be tied to trip wires that, when tripped, swung the muzzle in the direction of the thief and sent a lovely lead gift their way.
The unsung heroes of the Fur Trade | Feast of the Hunter's Moon 2019
We made the trip this past fall to the TCHA "Feast of the Hunter's Moon" living history event at the Fort Ouiatenon site in West Lafayette Indiana.
The Feast of the Hunters’ Moon is a re-creation of the annual fall gathering of the French and Native Americans which took place Fort Ouiatenon, a fur-trading outpost in the mid – 1700s. It is held annually in early autumn on the banks of the Wabash River, four miles southwest of West Lafayette, Indiana.
Thousands of participants re-enact this event creating a feast for your senses. Smell the wood smoke, hear the report of the rifles, savor authentic food and more.
Continuous, free programming is held on five stages. French and Native American music and dance, fife and drum corps performances, military drills and demonstrations, fashion shows, games and contests can be enjoyed at the 50th celebration of this event. Special hands-on activities include the children’s trade blanket, costume try-on, candle-dipping, story telling, bead bracelet making, cross-cut sawing, and tomahawk throwing
We'd like to thank the Tippecanoe County Historical Association for allowing us to film during their event.
Find out more about the TCHA and the work they are doing to preserve history here
2020 Alafia River Rendezvous
Pack up your camp and head to Sunny Florida for the Southeast’s largest pre-1840 Rendezvous. Join over 1000 other campers for shooting, hawk & knife, and archery competitions, seminars, pow wow, kids activities, traders, and lots of entertainment.
Join us January 15-26, 2020. Early set up begins January 15 and goes until January 17.
1000 Old FT. Meade Road, Homeland, FL 33847
For registration forms and info- Alafiariverrendezvous.org or follow them on facebook- AlafiaRiverRendesvous
School Day will be Thursday, January 23
January 24 & 25 will be Public Days
The Registration Gate will close at 4pm each day.
This is not an NMLRA event, we are promoting the event because we love living history.
How to Load a Muzzleloader
We wanted to bring this illustration out from the Muzzle Blasts Magazine archives. Commissioned in 2015, we’d like to thank Larry Small for illustrating this great diagram.
How to load a Muzzleloader
Make sure the bore is dry by using a ramrod with a cleaning jig and a clean, dry patch.
With the hammer down for safety, clean the frozen, pan, and flint (watch out for the sharp edges of the flint). Be sure the flash hole is clear of obstruction by inserting a vent pick, paper clip, or pipe cleaner. Load a flintlock with the frizzen and hammer all the way forward.
For a percussion firearm, inspec the nipple for obstruction by using a nipple pick or paper clip. With an unloaded firearm, snap a cap or two. Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.
Pour the powder from a powder horn or flash into a measure. For safety, never pour powder directly into the bore from a horn or flask.
Pour the measured powder charge down the bore. Avoid placing your hands or face directly over the muzzle.
Center a lubricated or moistened patch over the bore and place the lead ball onto the patch.
With the short end of a short starter, set the patched ball into the bore. Use the Pam of your hand to press the ball into the muzzle.
Push the ball deeper with the long end of the short starter by using the palm of your hand.
Firmly seat the load against the powder charge by using short strokes with your ramrod. NEVER fire a muzzleloader if the ball is not firmly seated on the powder charge.
Use a pencil to make a reference mark on your ramrod when the lead ball is correctly loaded.
Remove the ramrod and store it under the barrel.
For a flintlock, fill the pan 1/4 to 1/3 full of priming powder, place the hammer into the half- cock position, and close the frizzen. When ready to shoot, bring the hammer into full cock position.
For a percussion muzzleloader, bring the hammer into the half-cock position and place a cap firmly onto the nipple. When ready to shoot, place the hammer at full cock.
Be certain of your target and what lies beyond. Aim and fire.
Run a damp cleaning patch down the bore and begin the process again, no need to repeat step #9
Reliving History by Surviving in a Dugout Canoe
We sit down with living historians Eli Froedge and Jason Jacobs at the 2019 Feast of the Hunter's Moon to talk about their dugout canoe expedition of the Wabash River.
Eli and Jason are dedicated to living the history of our forefathers, crafting their clothing, tools, and accouterments for their historical treks into the wilds of Indiana. Some may refer to them as reenactors, but they prefer "living historians", following the guides set by books and journals from early America.
Additional photos and videos of the expedition provided by Jason Jacobs, Eli Froedge, and Heath Hoffman. Thank you for letting us use your photos and videos!
Muzzle Blasts at Mississinewa 1812
It’s been a busy weekend for the NMRLA and Living History. With events in Indiana, Tennessee and Pennsylvania, our Muzzleblasts reporters are excited to share photos and videos from these events.
Reporting in first are some photos from “Missisissinewa 1812” a living history event and battle reenactment near Marion, Indiana. This event honors those who fought in the war of 1812, the historic battlefield is just miles away from the reenactment site.
“ ”An early search and destroy mission, the battle of Mississinewa was one of the major engraftments fought during the war of 1812. It marked the first offensive victory of the American army during the conflict.””
This was the 32nd year for the Mississinewa 1812 event, which draws 30,000 people each year to watch the battle, learn from craftspeople as well as shop and eat thanks to all of the reenacting vendors.
Find out more at www.mississinewa1812.com
Muzzleblasts at the Feast of the Hunter's Moon 2019
It was a beautiful weekend for living history at the 2019 Feast of the Hunter’s Moon in Lafayette, Indiana.
With an expected 40,000 visitors from the public, the TCHA put on another wonderful event this year. All weekend we saw bright smiling faces from the reenactors and visitors as they explored Fort Quiatenon grounds and traveled back in time to the mid-1700’s.
If you’d like to learn more about the event, or get involved, check out their website
We’d like to extend a special thank you to the TCHA for allowing us to come in to film and photograph at their event.
A beautiful weekend for Living History at KohKohMah and Foster 2019
Reenactors and attendees alike had beautiful weather this past weekend at Kohkohmah and Foster near Kokomo, Indiana!
On Friday the event had almost 1800 school children attend, we love seeing events like Kohkohmah work hard to bring in children and give them first-hand learning experiences!
Photo by Robin Auth
Congratulations to Bob Auth and Pat Scott for another wonderful event!
To find out more about the event, check out their website, facebook page, and facebook group!
KohKohMah is not in any way affiliated with the NMLRA, our coverage of this event is voluntary in nature to spread our love of living history here at the NMLRA.