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The planning for the 10th Annual
Lawrence County History Festival set for 2011 is already underway! We will be experiencing many new and exciting changes
to the festival this year. Chief amoung these changes will be our moving the festival from Murray Park to the grounds
of Bedford North Lawrence High School.
Another exciting addition for 2011 will be the addition
of the Red Cross cabin to our event. Yes, the cabin formerly owned by Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red
Cross, is currently located on the back lot at Bedford North Lawrence High School. For many who did not know, the Red
Cross was founded in Lawrence County just after the American Civil War ended. The Red Cross Cemetary can still be seen
from highway 37 south, just after crossing the river going towards the town of Mitchell.
Over the years the festival has grown from being a one day only to a three day weekend event.
The festival consists of a historical timeline event of living history demonstrations, drills, and skirmishes that range from
the Revolutionary War through World War II and also includes the cultural identity of the First Nation.
As always spectators may listen to the stories of the Native Americans, can visit and sit in the
encampments of soldiers from the American Civil War or from World War II, visit a buffalo hunter's encampment, participate
in children's games, see a wild west stage hold up, learn the almost forgotten art of lacemaking or talk to a wide variety
of historical characters. There is so to do and experience in the depth of the pioneer spirit of our history.
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| The Lawrence County Living Historians |
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The 2010 Lawrence County History
Festival and Pow Wow is almost here again. We are working very hard to make the next festival as wonderful event
as it was last year!
In the past Fridays have always been our "school
day" in which about 600 fifth grade students come out and experience history, however, on the 2009-2010 school
year, that day has been selected as a "snow day." So we are all crossing our fingers and hoping for some
snow next winter so we can host the children on that day!
Saturdays are the first day the festival will be open to the public and in 2009, the number of visitors were amoung
the largest we had ever had and we are hoping to top that record for 2010. The festival will open by 10am
on Saturday and have many shows and presentations going on throughout the day, including our honored friends in the First
Nation, who will grace us with their rich and wonderful cultural heritage. The "doors" will close
around 5 pm that afternoon.
Our final day of the festival is always on Sunday,
and though it is unfortunate to part ways, it is necessary for all things to come to their conclusion. However, the
festival will open at noon on the final day with our presentors and soldiers alike to lead everyone down the path of history
until the closing of the event promptly at 4pm.
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| President Lincoln makes an address at the Presidential Ball |
Click here to see more pictures from the 2009 Presidential Ball.
As always, the Lawrence
County History Festival is scheduled for the third weekend in April in Murray Forrest Park, Bedford, Indiana. For the
2010 year, the dates are April 16th, 17th and 18th. Festival times are: Friday (School day) 9:00 am
- 3:00 pm. Saturday 10:00 am - Dark Sunday 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm.
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2010 Lawrence County History Festival &
Pow Wow |
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With the economy in the condition it is in currently, we are feeling it here on the committee for the Lawrence County
History Festival. As ever, we have tried to keep this event free to the public, mostly so that the people who come and
visit us can enjoy themselves and learn something about the history and culture of the past.
As a result of limited resources of our
community and the cutting of the state grant budget for this year and next year as well, we are now forced to ask for donations
in order to keep our event up and running. Using your credit card or paypal account, please click below and make a donation
to good cause. If not for patrons such as yourself, the children of our public schools, which no longer allow for field
trips, will have no event such as our to excite them to learn to not only learn of the past, but to strive for tomorrow as
well.
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Celebrating the history of our great state from the
woodland pioneer days until the end of World War II
 
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