Louisiana State Parks May 2014 Calendar of Events

As requested, Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site, Pineville – The Ancient Wheel Gin. 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, 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 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, Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site, Pineville – Old Time Woodworking Tools, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. The broad-axe, adze, draw knife, shaving horse and many more were in constant use during the fort’s original construction. Come visit and see a display of original wood tools from 1790 – 1860, as well as seeing them used to make things needed during Civil War-era life. 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 Fort 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 the visit. For more information call 888.677.7437 toll free or 484.2390 locally.

Daily, Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site, Pineville – Period Garden Tour, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site, together with the Rotary Club of Pineville, LA, cultivates a vegetable garden on site. Some of the produce from the garden is used for period cooking demonstrations during our Campfire Cooking program. The remainder of the vegetables goes to the Main Street Mission in Pineville. Our garden is fashioned after kitchen garden of the Civil War period. 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. Together with the Rotary Club of Pineville, site staff cultivates a vegetable garden on site. Volunteers are welcome to help out and learn about vegetable gardening, both “then and now.” Assistance 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.

May 3, Rebel State Historic Site, Marthaville – Dulcimer Day, 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.  If you play the dulcimer and would like to have some fun and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow “dulci-musicians,” come out for a day filled with events and workshops.  Workshops begin at 9 a.m. with two skill levels being offered; Beginner, and Intermediate, as well as workshops covering other areas of interest for musicians and dulcimer players.  At 5:30 p.m., there will be a concert and awards presentation, with an open jam session immediately following. For information call 888.677.3600 toll free or 472.6255 locally.

May 3, Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site, Pineville – A Civil War Soldier’s Equipment, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. What weapons did both sides carry during the Civil War? See the guns and equipment carried by the artillery, infantry and cavalry while they were in service. Pistols, swords, rifles, canteens, knapsacks, haversacks and more – find out how they were used daily by the soldiers. 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.

May 3, Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site – So you Think You Can Be a Colonial French Marine? 5 – 9 p.m. Spend a night as an 18th-century French Marine and experience eating, sleeping and doing the on- duty and off- duty activities of a French Marine. Registration is required; the fee is $20.00 per person and early registration will guarantee one of 30 spots in a fort bed.  For more information, call 888.677.7853 toll free or 357.3101 locally.

May 10, Hodges Gardens State Park, Florien – Painting in the Park, 9 a.m. – noon. Find inspiration in the beauty, color and tranquility of the gardens. Join the park ranger for step-by-step instructions on how to paint a swamp sunset. Bring your own canvas; paints and brushes will be provided. For more information call 800.354.3523 toll free or 586.3523 locally.

May 10, Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site – Colonial Women, 10 a.m. – noon. In conjunction with Natchitoches tri-centennial celebrations, join park staff for a seminar on the life and accomplishments of women in the Natchitoches colony during the French and Spanish period. Entrance fees will be waived for this program. For more information, call 888.677.7853 toll free or 357.3101 locally.

May 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 through various activities. Discover the group songs, games, musical instruments, theatrical productions, practical jokes, and more that all helped to keep morale up and pass the time. For more information call 888.677.7437 toll free or 484.2390 locally.

May 10, Rebel State Historic Site, Marthaville – Classic Car / Tractor / Motorcycle Show, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Area car, tractor and motorcycle clubs will meet at Rebel SHS to display their vehicles.  Club members will be on hand to greet the public, answer questions and give a brief history of their vehicle(s).  Concessions will be available provided, or visitors can bring a brown bag lunch and enjoy the picnic area.  The show is dependent upon favorable weather, so it will be cancelled in the event of rain.  For information call 888.677.3600 toll free or 472.6255 locally.

May 20-24, Hodges Garden State Park, Florien – Herb Garden Tour, 9 a.m. Tour the Herb Garden, discovering which flowers are edible, and enjoying aromas from the various lavender and rosemary plants. Learn to spice up your salads and entrees with color and zest. For more information call 800.354.3523 toll free or 586.3523 locally.

May 24, Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site – Plants that Dye, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. In the early years of colonization, making or dyeing fabrics was illegal for French colonials; but later, dyeing plain drab fabrics became a common practice. Bring an old T-shirt and participate, dyeing fabric using natural resources.  For more information, call 888.677.7853 toll free or 357.3101 locally.

May 24, Rebel State Historic Site, Marthaville – C.S.A. Memorial Day Ceremony, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Memorial Day was established just three years after the end of the Civil War. As a commemoration of the Unknown Confederate Soldier that lies at Rebel State Historic Site, the staff will present present a special Memorial Day Service. The traditional ceremony will take place just prior to 3 p.m., including a moment of silence in remembrance of all soldiers who lost their lives serving our country. For information call 888.677.3600 toll free or 472.6255 locally.

May 27-30, Hodges Gardens State Park, Florien – Bog Garden Tour, 9:30 a.m. The Western Hillside Seepage Bog, located in the lower level of the garden, is a natural community in the ecological system of Louisiana. Ground water constantly seeps to the surface creating wet, bog environment in which indigenous plants grow. For more information call 800.354.3523 toll free or 586.3523 locally.

May 27-31, Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site – Memorial Week: Honoring Troops of Fort St. Jean Baptiste, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday.  Drop by during this week-long memorial exhibit, and share your story about your descendant who may have served at Fort St. Jean Baptiste from 1716 through the Spanish Period. Sign our book and tell your family story. For more information, call 888.677.7853 toll free or 357.3101 locally.