NOTE: “Today” and “tonight” refer to Friday, Sept. 4.
PORT TOWNSEND — Two events are turning Fort Worden State Park into a war zone this Labor Day weekend.
The 4th U.S. Infantry Company C, a nonprofit Civil War living history group, is bringing a re-enactment to the park for the first time, including a daily skirmish and recreations of an encampment, a hospital and a contra dance.
At the same time, the Coast Artillery Museum is sponsoring its annual Military Vehicle Show, where about 30 vehicles dating from World War II to modern times will be on display.
Tank to roll through town
While visitors will need to go to Fort Worden to see the action, there is one community wide treat in store: A tank will roll off the ferry at the Port Townsend Ferry Terminal at about noon Saturday and travel through downtown and up Morgan Hill before arriving at the park.
“He made reservations on the ferry,” said Coast Artillery Museum employee Kevin Anderson.
“They are completely OK with it.”
Military Vehicle Show
The Military Vehicle Show takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, although some vehicles and displays will be there today and Monday.
Rides to and from the top of the hill will be provided in old military vehicles departing from the museum with a stop at the gate to Artillery Hill to pick up more riders.
Museum volunteers will provide tours of the Harbor Entrance Control Post as well as of Artillery Hill on Saturday and Sunday.
The 248th Living History Group will have displays at the Coast Artillery Museum, including an authentic barracks setup re-creating what it would have been like in 1942.
Exhibits and tours are free.
Civil War re-enactment
The American Civil War Living History and Skirmish re-enactment will be open to the public at 200 Battery Way from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday.
On Saturday and Sunday, there will be a skirmish at noon.
The event is free and open to the public.
Not all of the scheduled events are related to the military.
The Civil War re-enactors are sponsoring an 1800s Historical Contra Dance from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday in the USO Hall featuring music by Broken Dream and dance instruction.
Tickets are a suggested donation of $15 each and are available for purchase at the Coast Artillery Museum at Fort Worden.
The combination of the two events is expected to fill up the fort Saturday, Sunday and part of Monday this Labor Day weekend.
About 3,000 people are expected to come see the military vehicles, and several hundred are predicted to be interested in the Civil War re-enactment, according to estimates by Coast Artillery Museum volunteer Alfred Chiswell and Civil War re-enactor Liz Vazquez Strand.
Civil War re-enactments have taken place in Old Fort Townsend, Port Gamble and other locations, but this is a first for Fort Worden, Strand said.
“We really love the scene,” Strand said of the re-enactments.
“It’s fun to meet with all of our friends and provide the experience of what the Civil War was like and how people lived in those times.”
Vehicle enthusiasts
Military vehicle enthusiasts Don Gordon of Victoria and David King of Arlington echoed Strand’s characterization of the event as a good place to catch up with old friends and teach participants about history.
All of the visitors, they say, are eager to learn about past times and have hands-on experience with vintage equipment.
“We’ve always had a good reception from people,” Strand said
“The public always has a good time.”
The appeal crosses generations, according to Katrinka Simpson of Victoria.
“I love to take people out in the Humvee, especially the little kids,” she said.
“And we get a lot of parents of people in the service who have never seen a Humvee.”
Those parking within the campus portion of Fort Worden will not need a Discover Pass.
For more information about the Civil War re-enactment, go to www.civilwareventfortworden.org or email livinghistorycoordinator@yahoo.com.
For more information about the Military Vehicle Show, go to www.coastartillery.org or call 360-385-0373.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
