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Fort Boonesborough
Mandatory Event Guidelines
Effective January 1, 2018
Thank You for participating in events here at the fort! As we all know, any site is just a collection of buildings and “stuff” without people to bring it to life. Your presence during events adds more life and realism to our regular interpretive programming. We hope that you will enjoy your time here with us, and we invite your suggestions and comments. Nobody knows what works best for historical interpretation better than those of you who invest the time and money, and do the required research, to make it happen accurately.
Yes, we put on events to draw people to Kentucky’s Parks and Historic Sites. Yes, we like to see good numbers of people coming through the front gate. We also want to provide a place, an activity, and an opportunity for those who want to share their knowledge of history, learn more from each other, and present an accurate Living History Interpretation.
Our thanks to each and every one of you for your continued support of our event programming.
Mission Statement
The mission of our Living History Program is to present an accurate interpretation of Frontier Life in early Kentucky to students, visitors, and residents of Kentucky to help them understand how their lives today are related to, and connected to the people and places of Kentucky’s past.
Time Period
The time period / location for focus is 1775 to 1784 on the Kentucky Frontier; the most active time of Fort Boonesborough, and almost concurrent with the American Revolutionary War. All items seen, used by, or sold by participants of juried events at the Fort should meet this reference. If there is a question concerning any item, documentation is the responsibility of the participant. This includes clothing, camps, furnishings, guns, knives, accoutrements, footwear, hats, baggage, eating and cooking utensils, trunks, tools, etc.
Registration
All participants must be registered and signed in to take part in events. This includes registration, waivers, and check-in at the fort. When this is completed, you will receive a “token” to be kept on your person throughout the event. This shows that you are a registered participant. Participants in the battle will receive a different token to show them as registered to do so. First-time participants are required to submit photos of themselves and others in their camp in period attire, and photos of their camp/store, trade blanket, goods for sale, and equipment to be used. Registration may be on-line at www.fortboonesboroughlivinghistory.org by mail, e-mail, or in person at the fort. Registration for the Siege of Boonesborough must be received by September 1. You must be registered to be included in our annual appreciation drawing. All registrations must be filled out completely. Incomplete registrations will not be entered in the drawing.
Set-up, Vehicles, Parking
DO NOT SET UP A CAMP OR STORE BEFORE REGISTRATION AND CHECK-IN! YOU MAY BE REQUIRED TO MOVE IT IF YOU DO. For most weekend events, set-up is after 2pm on Friday, or on Thursday if Friday is a “school day”. There are no “camp fees” for participants, however, Merchants, Traders and anyone selling things must pay a nominal fee per Kentucky State Park regulations. No vehicles are permitted in the areas from 8:30 am Saturday until 4 pm Sunday. If you must leave for some reason on Sunday morning, it must be done between 6 am and 8:30am. There is a red two-wheeled cart to move gear during vehicle restricted times. Vehicles should be pulled in to site, unloaded, and removed to parking area before set-up. All parking, other than handicapped, will be down the access road behind the Fort, in the designated parking area. This allows parking space for visitors to the event.
Camps
Remember; DO NOT set a camp or store before registration and check-in are completed and location determined. All camps must be correct to the time period of 1775 - 1784. Simple lean-to shelters, wedge tents, marquees, and revolutionary war period wall tents are all acceptable. Open camps are correct and very simple to set. Remember, many people coming out at the time had no tents. Firewood is provided. Bring your ax, as some wood will need to be split. Please return unused wood to wood piles. Fire pits should be dug 5-6 inches deep, sod removed and set in shade to be replaced before you leave. Do not leave food, trash, or unburned wood in pits. Coons, skunks, etc. will dig it out and leave a mess. Cookware of tin, brass, some copper, and iron is good. Keep iron to a minimum and of a design/type to suit the last quarter of the 18th century on the frontier. Think “two packhorses” for the average travelers coming out at the time. Forked sticks/limbs make a great, natural means for hanging pots over a fire. “Fire irons”, tripods, and big grills were not common among early travelers to Boonesborough. Once again, think about the “two packhorses”. Coolers in camp are OK as long as they are covered/concealed/out of sight. Camp “furniture” should be kept to a minimum also; another “two horse” issue. Folding canvas or leather stools and those with folding backrests are acceptable, or maybe a few handmade or pole lathe turned chairs with seats of bark or cattails. This would be an item that would be related to the status/trade/social position of the owner. Stumps, log sections, kegs, and chests make good seats and the ground is always available in most all camps as a place to sit. Early lighting with camp fires, rush lights, grease lamps, pine splints, or simple tin lanterns would likely be more common than glass and wood lanterns among most folks. You may use straw in your camp if you must, but bring your own, and please scatter it in the woods before you leave. Be extra cautious with fire in camp if you use straw!
Clothing / Women
Participants should be in period clothing throughout the event weekend, including “afterhours” when the fort is closed to visitors. Women’s clothing should be typical of that worn in the last quarter of the 18th century. Period eyewear is required. While some may have had at least one “nice outfit”, most on a day to day basis would be wearing things like simple shifts, petticoats, short gowns, bed jackets, aprons, caps/kerchiefs, moccasins, period shoes with buckles or commonly with ties, and barefoot folks were very common at the time. Plain cloaks, capes, a matchcoat, or blanket can be used in cooler weather.
Clothing / Children
Participants should be in period clothing throughout the event weekend, including “afterhours” when the fort is closed to visitors. Children’s clothes should be much the same as that worn by adults. Very young children need only a long simple gown/shift/”nightshirt” sort of garment. Footwear same as adults.
Clothing / Men
Participants should be in period clothing throughout the event weekend, including “afterhours” when the fort is closed to visitors. Men’s clothing should be typical of that worn in the last quarter of the 18th century. Period eyewear is required. Men of greater means may have had more or better clothing, but the majority of early travelers to Kentucky would have had much the same as others around them. Depending upon their trade, occupation, or purpose at any particular time, possibilities would include fall-front or fly-front britches or trousers, breechclouts, leggings, typical period shirts of linen or other natural material, weskits of the period(shorter than the earlier, longer style), belts of leather with brass double-d buckles, some iron buckles, or sashes worn with shirt breechclout, and leggings. Hats were worn by most men at most times and included head scarves, felt hats of wool and beaver, some fur hats to a lesser degree (mostly cold weather), and straw hats suitable to the time and place and person. Boots, shoes, moccasins – all suited to the period- and bare feet are good. One item very often seen in the past few years; the “neck knife”, especially in a quilled sheath, is one that needs documentation for use in Kentucky at the time of Boonesborough. If you know of such, please make us aware of the source and/or bring along your documentation.
Clothing / Native Men
Participants should be in period clothing throughout the event weekend, including “afterhours” when the fort is closed to visitors. Clothing should be typical of that worn in the last half of the 18th century by the men of eastern woodland tribes such as Shawnee, Miami, Delaware, Mingo, Wyandot, and Cherokee. “Captured” clothing from Europeans in combinations with trade shirts of linen and other natural materials, leggings, garters, breechclouts, leather belts with buckles, sashes, all of period design and materials are acceptable. Center seam moccasins most common, traded/captured shoes with buckles or ties, and bare feet, all are good. Matchcoats, blankets and hides of deer, elk, bear, beaver, etc. may provide warmth in cooler weather. Tattoos, paint, jewelry and accouterments should all be suitable to the time/place/person.
Clothing / Native Women
Participants should be in period clothing throughout the event weekend, including “afterhours” when the fort is closed to visitors. Clothing should be typical of that worn in the last half of the 18th century by women of eastern woodland tribes such as Shawnee, Miami, Delaware, Mingo, Wyandot, and Cherokee. “Captured” clothing from Europeans is acceptable in combination with Native wear. Trade shirts, shifts, petticoats, wrap skirts, leggings, garters, and belts / sashes are all acceptable. Moccasins, captured shoes, and bare feet are good. Paint, tattoos, jewelry, and accoutrements should fit the character/time/place. Blankets, matchcoats, hides of deer, elk, bear, and beaver may provide warmth in cooler times.
Clothing / Native Children
Participants should be in period clothing throughout the event weekend, including “afterhours” when the fort is closed to visitors. Children’s clothes should be much the same as that worn by adults. Footwear same as adults.
Merchants / Traders
All previously mentioned camp guidelines apply. Stores should be suited to the period. Plain wood tables or others skirted to the ground. All goods for sale or trade are to be appropriate for the period. Tags and packaging should also reflect the period. Call ahead if you need to set up early. Your inventory will be juried for acceptance. Appropriate tax is the responsibility of the seller. Kentucky State tax forms will be available. If you have questionable items, be prepared to show documentation.
General
No one under 18 years of age may participate in the Siege battle. Flintlock rifles, muskets, fowlers, and other smoothbore guns are acceptable. Pistols of the period may be present, displayed, and sold, but are not to be carried or used in the Siege battle. No “short” or cut-down guns (“canoe guns”, etc.) or blunderbusses should be here, and certainly not used in the Siege. Short guns in such close quarters are an unacceptable safety risk. All guns to be used in the Siege will be safety-checked and “flagged” prior to use. Suggested charges for demos/battle are 60-70 grains for rifles and 80-90 grains for smoothbores. Absolutely NO pouring of powder from the horn into the muzzle! Use a measure. Overcharging for a “bigger bang” is not permitted. Muzzles must be elevated when firing, and in no case pointed directly at opponents, regardless of the range. Please keep muzzles up, or pointed in a safe, clear direction at ALL times. Horses must be pre-approved and must meet health requirements. Dogs may be on the park on lead, but only service dogs and period breeds for interpretation may be inside the fort. Water, wood, and ice are provided, and showers are available at no charge in the campground. Quiet time is 10pm to 6am. We are open 9 to 5. Your considerate interaction with our program and visiting public is greatly appreciated.
You may have noticed a lack of the usual lists of items you cannot have, wear, use, etc., and a lot of No this, and No that. I believe we can all determine what is suitable, and if it didn’t exist here then, it shouldn’t be here now for these events. I have used a few NO’s in regard to firearms and safety, but those are for the protection of everyone.
These guidelines are not final and permanent, and may be changed as required. If you have questions or comments, please contact the Fort Manager at stephen.mckinney@ky.gov We appreciate input and constructive criticism, to improve the programming and interpretation here at Fort Boonesborough.
If we have a sincere interest in telling and demonstrating the story of our History, we should have the same interest in presenting it as accurately as we possibly can. I hope that each of you will join us in this effort.
Thank You,
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