160th Anniversary of the US Army's Arrival to the Vancouver Barracks Celebrates with Living History Activities-Two Act Play, the Annual Soldier's Bivo

WHO: National Park Service at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site

WHAT: The 160th Anniversary of the US Army's arrival will be celebrated with a number of living history events during this exciting weekend.
Activities will begin with a two act play that covers Pickett’s life from his boyhood in Richmond, Virginia, to his untimely death in the 1870s. For more than 16 years Mike Vouri and folksinger Michael Cohen have been explaining who and why in drama, comedy and song in "The Life and Times of General George E. Pickett” bringing the Victorian-era Army veteran back to life. Vouri, as Pickett, offers a brisk interpretation of the 19th Century United States and its territories through Pickett’s life, which touched almost all of the major themes; while Mr. Cohen plays the banjo and sings period songs. This one time performance in Vancouver will bring to history to life.

The Annual Soldier’s Bivouac and the first Vintage Base Ball Game of the season have again returned sharing the stories of the soldier’s life at the Vancouver Barracks.

The Soldier’s Bivouac brings to light camp and community life for the soldiers of the Vancouver Barracks. Exploring the camps past and present, there will be reenactors from the Civil War era, Indian War era, to present day.

Another season of Vintage Base Ball is back as the 1st Oregon Volunteers compete against the Vancouver Occidentals. The first game of the season, the game will be played by the rules of the 1860’s without gloves and wooden bats. Come cheer your favorite team.

Make an evening of it, by coming to listen to the Whiskey Flats Band play period music prior to the game and see the ladies of the 1860’s try their hand at the new game of the time, croquet. New to the game, ladies will be dressed in their best as they learn the rules of the game as they play.

Hot Dogs and other refreshments will be available for sale; provided by the Restaurant at the Historic Reserve. Interested in a few mementoes, the Fort Vancouver National Historic Reserve Trust will have available for sale base balls of the time, team shirts, and more.

WHERE: "The Life and Times of General George E. Pickett" will be performed at the Foster Auditorium located at Clark College. 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, WA 98663. Soldier’s Bivouac and Base Ball Games take place on the Fort Vancouver Parade Ground. Bivouac will be located just south of the Bandstand and west of the Vancouver National Historic Reserve Visitor Center, 1501 Evergreen Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98661. Base Ball games will be played across the street from The Restaurant on the Historic Reserve in the Historic Grant House at 1101 Officer’s Row Vancouver, WA 98661.

WHEN: Soldier’s Bivouac will be on Saturday and Sunday, July 18 & 19, 2009 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Whiskey Flats Band Concert and Ladies Croquet will be on Saturday, July 18 at 5:00 p.m. and Vintage Base Ball at Saturday, July 18 at 6:00 p.m. Events are free of charge.

COSTS: All activities are free, including entrance into the Fort in conjunction with its Free Fee Day initiative. As part of the National Park Service's initiative, the organization wants to reinforce that national parks are places for everyone to have fun, reconnect with nature and history and build a sense of ownership and stewardship toward parks and the environment. Entrance fees will be waived during this weekend as well as on August 15 & 16.


For additional information about this and other special events offered by the National Park Service at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, please visit our website www.nps.gov/fova or call the Visitor Center at 360. 816.6230.

Background: Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, is the heart of the Vancouver National Historic Reserve. The Vancouver National Historic Reserve brings together a national park, a premier archaeological site, the region's first military post, an international fur trade emporium, one of the oldest operating airfields, the first national historic site west of the Mississippi River, and a waterfront trail and environmental center on the banks of the Columbia River. The partners of the Reserve teach visitors about the fur trade, early military life, natural history, and pioneers in aviation, all within the context of Vancouver’s role in regional and national development. The Reserve's vast array of public programs -- including living history events, festivals, cultural demonstrations, exhibits, active archaeology, and other special activities -- create a dynamic, fun, and unique tourist destination for people of all ages.