EWING, Va. – More than 450 re-enactors, merchants, artists and artisans bring history to life during the “Raid at Martin’s Station,” Friday, May 11 through Sunday, May 13, at Wilderness Road State Park.
Activities are scheduled Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is also Saturday evening programming beginning at 8:30 p.m. Daily fees are $5 for adults and $1 for children 6-12. Children under six years old are free.
Historic Martin’s Station is the re-creation of Captain Joseph Martin’s Fort originally built in 1775. The fort was located near present day Rose Hill, Virginia and played a key role in the settlement of the American frontier and Westward expansion during the Revolutionary War. Wilderness Road State Park is managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Visitors will be able to walk through an 18th century market fair, visit a Cherokee Indian camp, listen to colonial music or take a tour of Historic Martin’s Station. The event will feature Saturday afternoon and evening raids on Martin’s Station by Native American re-enactors. Battles start at 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Throughout the three-day event world-renowned frontier artists such as Daniel Jacobus, Doug Hall, Andrew Knez Jr., Dennis Muzzy and Steve White will appear in the Wilderness Road Visitor Center. Visitors will be able to shop for 18th century reproductions by these top artisans. There will also be free seminars on 18th century topics conducted by Wallace Gusler, Mark Baker and Eve Otmar. Also, the Powder Horn Gift Shop will be open and the 20-minute high definition film “Wilderness Road, Spirit of a Nation” will be playing in the Visitors Center theatre.
Other activities include:
Saturday, 10 a.m. The Virginia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution will present a flag raising ceremony followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the Wilderness Road Monument.
Saturday, 7 p.m. The Friends of Wilderness Road State Park will raffle a hand-made Virginia flintlock rifle. The Martin’s Station rifle project has been a two year endeavor to create a ‘Virginia Rifle” made with 18th century tools by three of the nation’s most accomplished colonial gunsmiths.
Sunday, There will also be activities celebrating mothers in recognition of Mothers’ Day.
Wilderness Road State Park is located in Ewing, Va., less than two hours from Knoxville Tenn., Bristol, Va. and Lexington Ky. For more information contact Wilderness Road at (276)445-3065 or e-mail the park at WildernessRoad@dcr.virginia.gov. You can visit the Friends of Wilderness Road website at: www.historicmartinsstation.com.
For more information on all 35 of Virginia’s award-winning state parks call toll-free 1-800-933-PARK (7275) or visit www.virginiastateparks.gov.
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