Civil War Days Festival at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park Feb 8-10
February 4th, 2008
Key West, Florida Keys – The roar of cannon fire and the sight of soldiers in Civil War uniforms are to greet visitors to Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park Friday though Sunday, Feb. 8-10, when the annual Civil War Days festival transforms the fort into a mid-1860s encampment.
Key West was the only Deep South port that remained in Union hands throughout the Civil War. Fort Zachary Taylor was a vital base for the Union blockade of Confederate ships, and blockade runners captured by Union vessels were forced to anchor in the waters just off the fort.
During the family-friendly festival, re-enactors in period costume are to be on hand depicting both Union and Confederate military personnel. An authentic Union camp is to be established inside Fort Taylor, with Confederate forces encamped on the park grounds outside. Other re-enactors are to portray merchants, craftsmen, period musicians and civilians of the era.
The festival’s main event is to involve a re-created engagement between land forces and blockade runners attempting to escape. Plans call for re-enactors portraying Union and Confederate troops to board historic Key West schooners to do battle in Key West Harbor just offshore.
During the fray, a blockade runner is to be captured, followed by the trial of the vessel’s captain based on an actual 1862 court case.
Other scheduled events during the historic weekend include arms inspections, demonstrations of seacoast artillery utilizing an original 10-inch Rodman cannon, re-creations of military maneuvers, living history demonstrations of “the art of soldiering” and 1860s medical techniques, demonstrations of crafts such as candle making and textile weaving, a ladies’ tea and a period ball with musicians performing songs of the Civil War era.
Civil War Days is presented by the Friends of Fort Zachary Taylor, a nonprofit citizen support organization. Most events are to take place in the fort, which contains the largest collection of Civil War cannons in the United States, or in the 54-acre state park that surrounds it. Tours of the historic fort are to be offered throughout the weekend.
Events are to begin Friday, Feb. 8, with guided tours of the fort and living history demonstrations for school children from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
A candlelight tour of Fort Taylor is scheduled 7-9 p.m. At 11 a.m. Saturday, a traditional military march is scheduled down Key West’s renowned Duval Street to Fort Taylor. The procession recalls the Union forces’ Civil War-era march through town to occupy the fort. The sea battle is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. followed by the blockade runner’s trial. The period ball is set for 8 p.m.
Sunday’s activities are to include arms inspections, a patrol skirmish and a variety of living history demonstrations.
Fort Taylor and the park can be accessed between 8 a.m. and sunset daily, from an entrance on Southard Street past Thomas Street. Daily entrance fees, which include a pass allowing visitors to leave and return, are $1.50 per person on foot or bike, $3.50 for a motorized vehicle and one person, $6 for a vehicle and two people, and $.50 for each additional passenger.
Admission to the festival is an additional $4 per adult and $2 per child 10 and older. Children under 10 are admitted free. Proceeds go to the Friends of Fort Taylor to help preserve the historic fortress.
For more information about Civil War Days, call the park at (305) 292-6713 or (305) 292-6850.
For lodging information in Key West, contact the Key West Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-LAST-KEY (800-527-8539), or visit the Keys Web site at www.fla-keys.com.
