OLUSTEE BATTLEFIELD HISTORIC STATE PARK HOSTS CIVIL WAR EXPO

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CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENT: Sept. 13, 2011

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us

OLUSTEE BATTLEFIELD HISTORIC STATE PARK HOSTS CIVIL WAR EXPO

~Event features re-enactors portraying life in Florida during the Civil War~


Re-enactors play traditional music at Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park.

Re-enactors play music from the 1800s at Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park.


OLUSTEE – The Department of Environmental Protection’s Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park will host the annual Civil War Expo on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in real-life Civil War military encampments featuring skilled re-enactors to learn about the hardships and victories of war.
The annual Civil War Expo is a day of authentic military drills, music and storytelling, exhibits, period artisans and traveling merchants. The event features re-enactors portraying both military and civilian life during the Civil War. Period musicians will perform music of the 1800s throughout the day. Demonstrations of blacksmithing, as well as, authentic weapons and fighting tactics used in the Civil War are scheduled.
The Battle of Olustee was fought in February 1864, when Union troops marched west from Jacksonville seeking to deprive the Confederacy of food and other supplies from Central Florida. The Battle of Olustee resulted in a Confederate victory and the containment of Union troops to the Jacksonville area until the war ended nearly 14 months later.
The Civil War Expo will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A donation of $5.00 per vehicle is requested and all proceeds benefit the Olustee Battlefield Citizens Support Organization and the Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park. The Olustee Civil War Expo is sponsored by the Friend of Florida State Parks, the Florida Park Service and the United States Forest Service. Please call (386) 397-7009 for more information. To learn more visit www.FloridaStateParks.org/olusteebattlefield
This event will take place:

Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park

5890 Battlefield Trail Road

Olustee, Florida 32072

(Located on US 90, 15 miles from Lake City and 50 miles from Jacksonville)