Louisiana State Parks Events – August 2013

Upon Request, Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site, Pineville – Daily Demonstrations. Daily demonstrations will be conducted to show how cotton fiber was separated from seed. Juxtaposed against hand separation, this will serve to illustrate how such a simple machine had such a great impact on the proliferation of cotton production in the South. We will be using a wheel gin (hand crank roller gin). These types of gins even pre-date the Whitney gin. We will also have mature cotton plants with open bolls 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, 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.

Daily, South Toledo Bend State Park, Anacoco – Nature Center Exhibits. An interpreter will be at the Nature Center to discuss exhibits of local wildlife including bald eagles, fish, birds, and alligators. Pictures depicting the building of the Toledo Bend Reservoir are on display as well as antique fishing gear. For more information call 888.398.4770 toll free or 286.9075 locally.

Tuesdays-Saturdays, 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.

Tuesdays-Saturdays, 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. Together will the Rotary Club of Pineville, LA, site staff cultivates a vegetable garden on site. Volunteers are welcome to come help out and learn about vegetable gardening then and now. Your labor is always appreciated, as most vegetables produced go to the Main Street Mission of Pineville. For more information call 888.677.7437 toll free or 484.2390 locally.

Aug. 2, Hodges Gardens State Park, Florien – Natural Bog Garden/Eagle’s Nest Tour, 9 a.m. Come and observe the Eagle’s nest and a walk through the natural bog garden to see all the wild ferns and foliage that grow around the bog. For more information call 800.354.3523 toll free or 586.3523 locally.

Aug 3, Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site, Natchitoches – Historic Walk, 9-11 a.m. Site staff will take a walk with points of interest within the park and along a designated path where 18th century colonial families lived. Fee is per person. For more information call 888.677.7853 toll free or 357.3101 locally.

Aug. 3, Hodges Gardens State Park, Florien – Painting in the Park, 9 a.m.-noon. Participants will be shown step-by-step how to draw and paint a picture. The gardens will be inspirational with their beauty and color. With or without artistic ability, you will paint your own masterpiece. Bring your own canvas; paint, brushes and easels will be provided. For more information and to reserve a seat call 318.586.7002.

Aug. 3, 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 short 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.

Aug. 3, 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 while in service. Pistols, swords, rifles, canteens, knapsacks, haversacks and more – find out how they were used daily by the soldiers. For more information call 888.677.7437 toll free or 484.2390 locally.

Aug. 3, Rebel State Historic Site, Marthaville – Acoustic Instrument Jam Session, 1 -5 p.m. Bring your acoustic instruments and join other area musicians at Rebel SHS for an afternoon of musical fun and learning. The jam session will be held in the Louisiana Country Music Museum lobby from 1 to 5 p.m. You do not have to play an instrument to attend. Listeners are always welcome. For more information call 888.677.3600 toll free or 472.6255 locally.

Aug. 3, Rebel State Historic Site, Marthaville – A Musical Event with the Friends, 6 p.m. The Friends of Rebel State Historic Site will host a musical event with concerts including gospel and bluegrass, workshops, jam sessions and other musically related activities. For more information call 888.677.3600 toll free or 472.6255 locally.

Aug. 10, Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site, Pineville – Whittling the Hours Away, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Many hours were spent in camp with little to do so soldiers sought refuge from boredom by devising various diversions. Group songs, games, musical instruments, theatrical productions, practical jokes and more all helped to keep morale up and pass the time. For more information call 888.677.7437 toll free or 484.2390 locally.

Aug. 10, Marksville State Historic Site, Marksville – Indian Culture Laws and Customs, 11 a.m., 1,2 & 3 p.m. Park personnel and volunteers will provide a dissertation of local tribal edicts and Indian Laws and Customs. For more information call 888.253.8954 toll free or 253.8954 locally.

Aug. 17, Fort Jesup State Historic Site, Many – A Laundress’ Story, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. This program will be an interpretive demonstration and discussion of the Fort Jesup military laundry and the ladies who would staff it. The program will include demonstrations of mending and stitching techniques as well as a on how clothes were actually washed in the 1800s. For more information call 888.677.5378 toll free or 256.4417 locally.

Aug. 17, Rebel State Historic Site, Marthaville – Mini Dulcimer Workshop, 10 a.m. – noon. Anyone interested in learning the basics of the Mountain Dulcimer is invited to bring your musical instruments and attend this workshop. After the workshop has concluded, there will be a short 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.

Aug. 17, Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site, Natchitoches – Night at the Museum, 5-6 p.m. This program will host different subjects including historic events, special topics associated with daily life of French Marines and family, and other various demonstrations. For more information call 888.677.7853 toll free or 357.3101 locally.

Aug. 20-23, Hodges Gardens State Park, Florien – Nature Walk, 9 a.m. Join the park ranger for a tour through the gardens and trails. This walk will tour to the waterfalls, the old rock quarry and bog garden. Learn about the trees and wildlife in the various seasons. For more information call 800.354.3523 toll free or 586.3523 locally.

Aug. 24, Marksville State Historic Site, Marksville – Prehistoric Mound Tour, 10 a.m. & noon. Site manager, Doyle Jennings, will conduct tours of the prehistoric mounds and demonstrations of the area and daily tasks. The Marksville mound site was an important American Indian ceremonial center over 2,000 years ago, established sometime around 100 B.C. by the Hopewell Indian culture and extended until approximately 430 A.D. For more information call 888.253.8954 toll free or 253.8954 locally.

Aug. 24, Rebel State Historic Site, Marthaville – Rebel DJ Day, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Guests are invited to Rebel to experience the large musical collection housed on site. A staff member will discuss the different types of music and the history behind bluegrass, rock and the Louisiana Hayride. Come out and hear the sounds live as Rebel makes everyone a DJ for the day. For more information call 888.677.3600 toll free or 472.6255 locally.

To see all the State Parks events happening around the state, visit www.LouisianaTravel.com.