October 27, 2023 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Kathryn Shoupe
334-230-2678
Kathryn.Shoupe@ahc.alabama.gov
Fort
Toulouse-Fort Jackson to Host Frontier Days in November
Montgomery – The Alabama Historical Commission
(AHC) invites you to its annual Alabama Frontier Days event on November 1-4,
from 9:00 am – 4:00pm, at Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson in Wetumpka, AL.
Celebrated
as one of Alabama’s largest and most authentic living history
events, Alabama Frontier Days brings the early 18th century
frontier to vivid life. This event puts into focus the South as it transitioned
from Creek Indian lands to military forts and civilian homesteads from 1700 to
1820. Using Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson as a historical backdrop, the public can
experience living historians who will bring the fort to life through military
reenactments with booming cannon fire and captivating demonstrations of
frontier crafts and trades.
"Alabama
Frontier Days is the keystone event for Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson Park and is
the largest education based living history program in the state,” said John
Gurner, site director of Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson. “The wonderful thing
about this event is that it takes what students have read about or studied in
the classroom and brings it to life in a beautiful outdoor setting."
This
snapshot of frontier life includes Creek Indians, French soldiers and their
families, British traders who lived among the Creeks and American soldiers who
fought in Andrew Jackson’s army during the Creek War. There will be period
entertainment featuring an eighteenth-century magician, merchants, strolling
balladeers, and musicians.
AHC
Executive Director Lisa D. Jones said, “Alabama Frontier Days is a
signature event for AHC. Each year, we welcome thousands of school children who
come away with an enhanced understanding of what life was like three hundred
years ago. We’ve been proud to continue this educational outreach for more than
two decades.”
Alabama
Frontier Days admission is $15 for adults and $10 for children (ages 6-18
years). The Saturday ‘Family Day’ is a terrific opportunity for families to
experience the forts together and learn more about the rich history on site.
Fort
Toulouse-Fort Jackson was declared a National Historic Landmark by
the Department of Interior in 1961 and was acquired by the AHC in
1971.
To
learn more about Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson, or the Alabama Historical
Commission, please visit ahc.alabama.gov.
###
About
the Alabama Historical Commission
Located in historic
downtown Montgomery at 468 S. Perry Street, the Alabama Historical Commission
is the state historic preservation agency for Alabama. The agency was created
by an act of the state legislature in 1966 with a mission to
protect, preserve and interpret Alabama’s historic places. AHC works to
accomplish its mission through two fields of endeavor: Preservation and
promotion of state-owned historic sites as public attractions; and statewide
programs to assist people, groups, towns, and cities with local preservation
activities. For a complete list of programs and properties owned and operated
by the AHC, hours of operation, and admission fees please visit ahc.alabama.gov