LA State Parks Events, June 2014

As Requested, Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site, Pineville – Musket Demonstration. The demonstration includes a brief presentation of infantry weapons used in the Civil War, a discussion of the merits of rifle muskets over smoothbore muskets and of the basic parts of the musket, a loading demonstration, and finally a firing demonstration.  The presentation ends with a question and answer session and an invitation to continue the site tour with a visit into Fort Randolph. For more information call 888.677.7437 toll free or 484.2390 locally.

As Requested, Rebel State Historic Site, Marthaville –Nature Hike. The Rebel Outback Trail is a half-mile mile primitive trail that runs through the piney woods of the site and is a natural habitat for squirrels, deer, foxes, raccoons, birds, and many other species. Visitors can hike this mostly flat and winding trail with very little difficulty, although it is not handicapped accessible. For more information call 888.677.3600 toll free or 472.6255 locally.

Daily, Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site, Pineville – Old Time Woodworking Tools, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The broad-axe, adze, draw knife, shaving horse and many more were in constant use during the construction of the forts. Come visit and see a display of original wood tools from 1790 – 1860, as well as a demonstration of items pertinent to life in the Civil War being made. For more information call 888.677.7437 toll free or 484.2390 locally.

Daily, Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site, Pineville – Museum Tour, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The Visitors’ Center at Forts Randolph has a number of interesting artifacts as well as several educational modules. Exhibits are set up so that they can be appreciated and understood unguided, but a guide can often add interesting facts and antidotes that add a little flavor to visit. For more information call 888.677.7437 toll free or 484.2390 locally.

Daily, Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site, Pineville – The Ancient Wheel Gin, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Daily demonstrations will be conducted to show how cotton fiber was separated from seed. Site staff will use a wheel gin, a simple hand crank roller gin; a type that pre-dates the Whitney gin but still played a large role in the evolution of cotton harvesting and the fiber’s use. Mature cotton plants with open bolls will be available, as part of the exhibit/demonstration, as well as raw cotton for use in the gin.  For more information call 888.677.7437 toll free or 484.2390 locally.

Daily, Rebel State Historic Site, Marthaville – Musical Petting Zoo, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Visitors can view the collection of stringed instruments on display to touch, play, and enjoy. For more information call 888.677.3600 toll free or 472.6255 locally.

Daily, Rebel State Historic Site, Marthaville – The Listening Library, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Visitors can listen to country recordings and access the collection of books and films that tell the story of the roots of country music. For more information call 888.677.3600 toll free or 472.6255 locally.

Saturdays, Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site, Pineville – Workin’ In the Garden, 10-11 a.m. Forts Randolph and Buhlow State Historic Site, together with the Rotary Club of Pineville, cultivates a vegetable garden on site, fashioned after kitchen gardens of the Civil War period. Some of the produce from the garden is used for period cooking demonstrations during Campfire Cooking programs, while the remainder goes to the Main Street Mission in Pineville. Volunteers are always welcome to come and help out, and learn a little bit about vegetable gardening then and now. For more information call 888.677.7437 toll free or 484.2390 locally.

June 7, Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site, Pineville – A Civil War Soldier’s Equipment, 1-2 p.m. See the guns and equipage carried by the artillery, infantry and cavalry carried by both sides of the Civil War. Most pieces displayed during this presentation are in the collection of Forts Randolph and Buhlow State Historic Site and can be seen daily in exhibits throughout the museum. For more information call 888.677.7437 toll free or 484.2390 locally.

June 7, Marksville State Historic Site, Marksville – Atlatl Throwing Contest, 1-3:30 p.m. Participants will compete in two categories: distance and accuracy. Distance markers at 25 yard intervals will aid in measuring while accuracy will be accomplished by aiming at a rolling hoop at a distance of 20 yards. An inclined ramp will aid in the integrity of the rolling hoop during the accuracy trial. For more information call 888.253.8954 toll free or 253.8954 locally.

June 14, Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site, Pineville – Whittling the Time Away, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Soldiering during the Civil War was quite often dull and monotonous, so soldiers often spent the hours around the campfire in deep conversation with comrades as they whittled on a piece of pine or cedar. This demonstration will use period tools to show how wooden items were fashioned. For more information call 888.677.7437 toll free or 484.2390 locally.

June 14, Rebel State Historic Site, Marthaville – Harmonica Contest, 7 p.m. Show off your blues harp skills, at this annual event. Harmonica prizes for the winners will be awarded to the top three places in the Professional Division. Certificates of achievement will be awarded to the winners in the Amateur Division.  For more information call 888.677.3600 toll free or 472.6255 locally.

June 17-21, Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site, Natchitoches – St. Denis Adventure Day Camp, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Campers, age 5-12, will explore a number of activities including the 18th-century French Marine drill, trekking through on-site wetlands, and learning how the Native Americans fished. Drop off is at 8 a.m., with half-day pick up at noon and afternoon pick up at 5 p.m. Campers need to wear comfortable shoes, bring water, a mid-morning snack, sun screen, and mosquito repellant; for full-day campers, include a drink and sack lunch. Half-day camp (8:30 to noon) is $50/child and full-day camp is $75/child; multi-child full-day discount is available for $50/child. For more information and registration forms, call 888.677.7853 toll free or 357-3101 locally.

June 21, Marksville State Historic Site, Marksville – Prehistoric Mounds Tour, 10 a.m. and noon. Join the staff and volunteers for special guided tours and demonstrations of the area and daily tasks, as performed by the area’s original resident. For more information call 888.253.8954 toll free or 253.8954 locally.

June 28, Rebel State Historic Site, Marthaville – Mini Autoharp Workshop, 10 a.m.-noon. Anyone interested in learning the basics of the Autoharp is invited to bring your musical instruments and attend this workshop. After the workshop has concluded, there will be a jam session for the students to display the skills they have learned. Pre-registration is required. For more information call 888.677.3600 toll free or 472.6255 locally.

June 28, Rebel State Historic Site, Marthaville – Acoustic Instrument Jam Session, 1-5 p.m. Bring your acoustic instruments and join other area musicians for an afternoon of musical fun and learning. The jam session will be held in the Louisiana Country Music Museum lobby, and listeners are always welcome. For more information call 888.677.3600 toll free or 472.6255 locally.

June 30, Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site, Pineville – Red River Campaign Exhibit, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. This program will be a major exhibition commemorating the sesquicentennial of the Red River Campaign. Staff will be on hand to interpret the entire exhibit for the public. Key items to be interpreted on loan from Texas, Wisconsin, and Illinois will highlight this exhibit. For more information call 888.677.7437 toll free or 484.2390 locally.