AUGUST 2009 UPDATE

Dear Unit Contacts and Sutlers,

It is hard to believe that the 2009 season is almost half over already. The Grand Encampment has been over for a month and the Rev War weekend is a little more then a month away.  It is amazing how fast time flies and how quickly things change.

Some things however have not changed.  We are still updating and completing our invitation lists, but there are still a few participants out there that we have not found information for.  If you have not yet received an invitation (and you have in the past) please contact the following coordinators:

Reenactors – Mark Turdo mturdo@fort-ticonderoga.org
Sutlers – Richard Strum rstrum@fort-ticonderoga.org

We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused and we appreciate your patience as we work to update our records. 

Since it is our lists that are incomplete we thought it would be fair to extend the registration deadline for the Rev War weekend.

The Rev War Weekend registration deadline is now September 1, 2009.

Fort Ticonderoga is fortunate that our reenactments are popular and attract visitors from all over our region.  We know many visitors come for the spectacle of the battles, but we would like to expand their experience.  The Fort is looking for individual reenactors or units who would like to create engaging interpretive programs that go beyond the tactical field. 

For the Rev War weekend we would like to offer a series of demos around which we can build our marketing plan and a visitor guide (for an example see this year’s Grand Encampment Visitor Guide).  The following are random program suggestions.  We certainly welcome other ideas.

• Camp tour
• Refugee camp
• Camp laundry
• Drill, firing, or artillery demos
• Court martial & punishment
• Music & dancing
• Campfollower games
• Period games (cricket, lacrosse, double ball, etc)
• Period fashion show
• Firelock cleaning & maintenance
• Regimental tailoring
• Fascine making
• Divine services

Actually anything you do that is period can be talked about with visitors.  Every moment in camp should be interpretive.

We ask that individuals or units who intend to present an interpretive program coordinate with the Fort.  That way we won’t have, for example, two courts martial happening simultaneously.  We also ask that all interpretive programs are well-researched and presented as accurately and authentically as possible.  If your unit would like to demonstrate inside the Fort please contact Richard Strum at least two weeks before the event to make arrangements.

We are hoping to work with the reenacting community to create and market unique historical experiences both for you and for our visitors.  We want everyone to walk away from our weekends having had a good time and learning something new.

General Orders and Announcements

While everyone should be aware of the sections pertinent to them, please make sure that at least one member of your unit is familiar with the Fort’s Reenactment Guidelines.  Each unit and its members are subject to the guidelines.

Reenactors may begin arriving on the Friday before.  If you would like to arrive earlier please contact Mark Turdo to make arrangements.

Sutlers may begin arriving on the Thursday before.  If you would like to arrive earlier please contact Richard Strum to make arrangements.

Reenactors and sutlers will park only in designated participant parking locations. As always, there is no parking in camp or on the tour road next to the camps (once equipment has been offloaded).  Any car parked in a no-parking zone will be towed at the owner’s expense.

Officers and enlisted men are reminded to leave their arms (including all bladed weapons) in camp when visiting the museum and garden.

Participants are reminded that if they wish to interpret inside the walls of the Fort or in the Fort’s demo area, they are requested to contact Richard Strum to make any necessary arrangements before June 12, 2009.  Unplanned interpretive programs will not be permitted inside the Fort.

There will be a provost posted Friday and Saturday nights starting at 10 pm and ending at 6 am.  This provost consists of Fort staff that is there to help if you or your unit has an emergency during the night.

Click here for the archived March 2009 Update.