2019 Raid at Martin’s Station Reenactment
Watch the frontier come alive at the 19th Annual Raid at Martin’s Station reenactment on May 10-12, 2019 at the Wilderness Road State Park in Ewing, Virginia. Witness history come alive as hundreds of living historians re-enact life at Joseph Martins frontier fort. Watch as two cultures clash and the flames of war are once again ignited on Virginia’s frontier. Activities include tours of Cherokee Warrior and Colonial Militia camps, frontier fort life, and 18th century merchants and colonial traders selling their wares. Various seminars on 18th century topics will be conducted by world renowned historians and lecturers. Frontier battles between the natives and the settlers highlight the Raid at Martin’s Station reenactment at 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Saturday. War is imminent!
Martin’s Station Reenactment
The Raid at Martin’s Station reenactment can be better described as an “on-going living history demonstration” rather than a “reenactment” by its usual definition. While the event is hosted and coordinated by the Wilderness Road State Park, the Friends of Wilderness Road sponsor the event. The activities associated with the Raid and trade fair are the combined efforts of the local civic, community, and school groups, 18th century suttlers and merchants, and various military and native reenactment groups.
Admission: $10 per vehicle ($4 on Sunday)
Schedule of Events (Subject to Change)
Daily Events (Friday & Saturday – Ongoing)
Open Hearth Cooking * Militia Drill * Blacksmithing * Colonial Surveying * 18th Century Market Farie * Cherokee Camp * Hide Tanning * Spinning and Weaving *
Artillery Firing * Musket Firing * 18th Century Music * Candle Making
Saturday
10:00 am Sons of the American Revolution Historical Observance (Visitor’s Center)
10:15 am Program – Developing your Historic Persona
11:00 am Seminar – To be announced
1:00 pm Battle Reenactment (Martin’s Station*)
2:00 pm To be announced
3:15 pm Seminar – To be announced
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Seminar (hourly) – To be announced
8:30 pm Night Battle Reenactment (Martin’s Station*)
Sunday
10:00 am 18th Century Church Services (Martin’s Station)
11:00 am Seminar – To be announced
1:00 pm Program – To be announced
2:30 pm Lowering of the Colors (Martin’s Station)
* Visitors must move out of historic area during battle reenactments for safety.
Location
Historic Martin’s Station at Wilderness Road State Park
8051 Wilderness Road
Ewing, VA 24248
For More Information: 276-445-3065 WildernessRoad@dcr.virginia.gov
History of Martin’s Station
The original Martin’s Station played a relatively short but significant part in the history of southwestern Virginia and the early settlement of Kentucky. The station takes its name from Joseph Martin, who led the expedition that identified that tract of land where they erected a stockaded fort, some crude cabins, and planted a corn crop. These efforts at settlement proved to be useless, as an Indian attack occurred in the fall of 1769 and the station was abandoned. Joseph Martin would not be long absent from the station, and in January 1775 returned to Powell’s Valley with a party of 16 or 18 men who built a more permanent station. As the last fortified station along the Wilderness Road prior to reaching the new lands being opened in Kentucky, Martin’s Station was a well-known stop for the early settlers.
Mark your calendar today so you don’t miss the next Raid at Martin’s Station reenactment at the Wilderness Road State Park in Ewing, Virginia.
Tags: Martin’s Station Reenactment, Martin’s Station