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Historical reenactment is a marriage of education and role-playing games. Those who are involved with reenactment groups are dedicated to promoting an understanding of history. They are eager to teach what they know about the period they portray. And they like to meet and have fun with others who share their interest. There are tons of organizations for just about any period in history.
The Iron Age
Brigantia is an Iron Age Celtic reenactment group in Portsmouth, England. They demonstrate Iron Age (1000BC-43AD) life and warfare for schools, museums, and films, as well as for their own enjoyment.
The Roman Empire
This picture is from Caesar’s Conquerors Historical Re-enactment Unit, a Roman re-enactor group in Maine. Legio XX, a Washington DC group, is expecting reenactors from across the country and around the world to attend their Roman Days, June 2-3 in Glen Dale, MD.
More reenactors, after the jump.
The Vikings
The Vikings of Middle England re-create the ‘Dark Age’ period between 793AD and 1100AD. The group is based in Leicester, England, and has amassed an impressive list of film appearances. See a video of the Vikings in action (warning: violent).
Renaissance
Although wars provide an action-packed show, not all reenactment groups are based on warfare. The Society for Creative Anachronism is an international metagroup dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts and skills of pre-17th-century Europe. The Kingdom of Atlantia is the southern US arm of the SCA. They have a full schedule of fairs, tournaments, and exhibits. See a video of Atlantians in action.
Revolutionary War
The Brigade of the American Revolution is an international organization with members portraying not only continental soldiers, but also the British, Loyalist (Tory), German, French, Spanish, and Native American forces. Members are spread all over the US, plus Canada and England. The above picture is from the Seige of Yorktown in 2006.
The Civil War
The Mifflin Guard Civil War reenactors have units spread over New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. They portray Union soldiers as a battalion of smaller units at reenactment events, and they work to restore and preserve historical sites, such as Fort Mifflin near Philadelphia.
If any of these groups have an event scheduled near you, make an effort to attend and take the kids. They will get a taste of living history that will engage them far more than any textbook. See a collection of battle reenactment videos through World War II at YesButNoButYes.
My nephew and his wife participate in the Civil War reenactments in New Jersey and often travel to the Gettysburg sites.
Seems too complicated to me. I prefer the reenactment of Napoleon and the naughty houseboy. Play it all the time. lol!!!
posted by Sheldon Siegel on 3-1-2007 at 8:50 am
Did everyone in the Iron Age wear plaid pajama pants?
posted by MOD on 3-1-2007 at 9:53 am
Agree on the PJ’s. That shot looks like a still from a Monty Python sketch.
posted by n2y2 on 3-1-2007 at 10:19 am
My mother and her husband do Civil War reenactments. Here’s the thing. Her great-great whatever fought for the south in the battle at Appomatox. His great-great whatever fought for the North in the same battle. So when they decided to get married, they did it at Appomatox on the anniversary of the battle. Mom had Generals Grant and Lee give her away. They were dressed in full regalia, and all that mess. It was fun. Crazy, but fun.
posted by Jenny in NC on 3-1-2007 at 11:18 am
haha cool, thanks for the link.
Also, i applaud your observations about our hobby :)
Thanks.
posted by Kael on 3-1-2007 at 12:03 pm
Cheers to your fine representation of those of us who call ourselves anachronists! Huzzah!
posted by Anachronista on 3-1-2007 at 7:05 pm
I camped with a group of Early Arkansas Settler reenactors in college. I’d never known that sleeping on canvas covered hay could be so comfortable.
posted by Tru on 11-3-2007 at 4:36 am
I grew up about 10 minutes away from Conner Prairie, a living history museum in Fishers, Indiana, that recreated a whole central Indiana town circa 1836. They’ve added an 1880s section since the last time I was there, but it’s probably pretty good. The houses even had actual gardens grown by the reenactors.
Other than that, my only experience with anachronism was Ren Faire at a now defunct amusement park. I must have been about seven, and all I remember is Robin Hood botching his rescue of Maid Marian from the sheriff.
posted by Joanna on 4-29-2008 at 12:54 pm
… Of course if you live in the Pacific Northwest, your local SCA will be gobs of iron age Saxons, Vikings, and a large swath of Mongolian re-enactors sitting alongside a few Tudor/Elizabethan folks.
For some reason we skipped the 11th-14th centuries up here.
Nobody is quite sure why.
posted by Ydonia Goseling on 4-29-2008 at 8:42 pm