Historic Fort Steilacoom
2010 Events
Mrs. Casey's Fashion Review and Tea
20 February, Saturday, 2–4 PM — Quarters 2
All ladies of the Territory are invited to view the latest fashions of 1860 while visiting and having tea with Mrs. Casey and her friends. Limited seating requires advanced tickets to be purchased. Please call 253-582-5838 for reservations and more information.
Medicine of the 1850s
21 March, Sunday, 2–4 PM — Quarters 2
Mike Martin, Living Historian, and a member of Fort Steilacoom will give a presentation on medical personnel, and medical attention given during the mid-1800s.
Swap Meet, and Militaria Display
17 April, Saturday, 10 AM–4 PM — Quarters 2
Ft. Steilacoom will once again host its annual swap meet, with static display: “From Caesar to Schwartzkopf”. Do you have any extra reenacting gear, or militaria that you need to sell? Maybe you are just getting started, or looking for that one piece to round- out your impression? Or, simply come on out to check out our great displays! For those wishing to sell items, table rental is $10 per table (30” x 60”). The fee is cut in half to $5 to those wearing period, military attire (all periods, just keep it consistent to one period!). (Note: we have limited amount of tables, so first come first-served.)
Ft. Steilacoom Open House
1–2 May, Saturday & Sunday, 10 AM–4 PM — Quarters 1–4
Donations strongly encouraged.
Come see our Fort. Our buildings will be open to the public, and Living Historians will be on hand to answer any questions about the buildings, and history of the Army of the Territory during the occupation of the Fort from 1849-1868.
Ft. Lewis Armed Forces Day
15 May, Saturday — On-post at Ft. Lewis (Softball field near Cowan Stadium)
Members of the FSHA will support the U.S. Army in recognition of our Armed Forces.
The Founding of Ft. Steilacoom
27 June, Sunday 2-4 PM
Board member and accomplished living historian Tom Melberg will explain the political and military context that led to the founding of our fort in 1849. He will recount the fort’s connection to nearby HBC Fort Nisqually as well as the life of Ft. Steilacoom’s first commanding officer, Captain Bennett Hill of the 1st Artillery Regiment. The program is free, but donations are encouraged.
Independence Day
4 July, Sunday — Steilacoom, and Dupont, WA
Members of the FSHA will support the cities of Steilacoom, and Dupont in celebrating our nation’s independence. Our booth will feature information about the fort; the booth will be located in front of City Hall in Steilacoom. We will also sponsor a static display in the city park of Dupont with costumed interpreters & demonstrations.
Founders Day Picnic
15 August, Sunday, 1–4 PM — Quarters 4
Come join us for our Founders Day picnic. We will be celebrating the founding of the Fort Steilacoom Historical Association. Bring a dish to share outside on the Parade Ground!
Ft. Steilacoom Living History Day
11 September, Saturday, 10 AM–4 PM — Quarters 1–4
Donations strongly encouraged.
Come on out, and visit with members of Ft Steilacoom, and their friends from the Territory. The fort will be staffed by living historians who will interpret displays, and occupy the buildings of the fort.
A Defense in Depth
19 September, Sunday, 2–4 PM — Quarters 2
Living historian and member of the FSLHD, John McPherson will provide a brief lesson, in first-person portrayal, on the art of field-employed military fortifications of the 1850s period.
FSHA Annual Meeting
17 October, Sunday, 2–4 PM — Quarters 2
Ft. Steilacoom will host its annual meeting with elections of new officers for 2011-2012. Lawrence Bateman, living historian and member of the FSLHD, will portray officer A.V. Kautz in "A Rememberance of Ft Steilacoom."
Christmas at Ft. Steilacoom
11 December, Saturday 4–7:30 PM — Quarters 1-4
Admission fee to be announced.
Step back in time into historical Ft. Steilacoom as the soldiers, families, and friends celebrate Christmas 1860. See the fort come to life, and listen to the conversations of the past, as you are guided through the historical buildings illuminated by candlelight.
Past Events, 2009
Christmas at Fort Steilacoom — December 12
Reenactors presented a period candle-light Christmas in the four remaining officers’ quarters. The Caseys entertained guests from Steilacoom, Fort Nisqually, and elsewhere as carolers, officers and soldiers strolled about, and ladies and gentlemen danced to the tune of fiddlers. There was also children’s craft activities, and the gift shop was open for Christmas shopping.
Fall Colors shine at October’s Living History Day — October 17
Despite a very rainy and chilly day, fort volunteers braved the weather to bring Ft. Steilacoom back to life through interpretive display and discussion. Volunteers wore authentic reproduction clothing and adopted the personas of historical figures present at the fort between the years of 1849–65.
The Fort’s LHD visits the original site of Ft. Nisqually — August 23
Members of “The Lost Towney Mess” set-up a small display on the original site of the Hudson’s Bay Company post, Ft. Nisqually in modern-day, DuPont, Washington State. They displayed and interpreted equipment of the type worn and used by Regular Army soldiers in the year 1855. Visitors to the event included area citizens, local government officials, historic-minded preservationists, and active-duty personnel from nearby McChord Air Force Base and Fort Lewis.
Puget Sound Indian Wars Board Gaming
Fighting comes again to the Kent Valley, in miniature!
On April 19th, Lawrence Bateman hosted his fourth annual miniature skirmish game based on the Puget Sound Indian War of 1855-56. A board member of FSHA and avid miniature war-gamer, Mr. Bateman helped guests recreate in miniature firefights that took place in the area involving units of the regular army and Washington Territorial Volunteers. This year’s scenario relived the day of Lt. William A. Slaughter’s demise on Dec. 4th, 1855, in area that is known today as the Kent Valley.
Special guests at the event included board members Bob Demorest & Tom Melberg and Mr. Johnny Joyce.
Militaria Swap Meet & Display
On April 4th, Lt. Col. Casey’s home took on the appearance of a quartermaster’s warehouse with the wealth of vintage military gear and clothing on display or for sale. Several vendors arrived early in the morning to set-up their tables, each featuring a variety of goods ranging from antiques to reproduction items. The periods represented varied from colonial period “kit”, through the 19th Century, and up to the 1991 Gulf War.
The fort played host to numerous visitors and interested parties. All of our vendors wore period military attire including two highly-authentic Confederate impressions, a Vietnam infantry impression, and WWII and mid-19th Century army impressions. A special multi-period display was set-up in the lobby by the “Rogue Historians,” members of the fort’s Living History Detachment. Sales were brisk in the morning, yet tapered out in the late afternoon. All of those who attended walked away with a great experience and fantastic conversation, not to mention great militaria to add to their collections!
Special guests at the event included board members Bob Demorestand Tom Melberg and Mr. Johnny Joyce.
Past Events, 2008
Christmas Season of 1858
Area reenactors, musicians, and Association volunteers once again engaged our visiting public with a very special candle-lit presentation of fort life at night.
Despite the very real cold temperatures and the arrival of a late-evening snow flurry, the HFSA entertained just over 80 visitors. In addition to the museum in Quarters 4, the other three buildings were alive with caroling, dancing, trimming of the tree, talk of the latest politics, and speculation on the coming new year of 1859. Fort personalities such as the Caseys, the Bachelders, the Englishes, and the Alvords depicted the domestic sphere of life on the fort.
Visitors from nearby Victoria, New Westminster, Camp Semiahmoo, and HBC Ft. Nisqually added further dimension to our post’s role as district headquarters. Once again, visitors to the fort came away with a positive experience regarding this annual, popular event for visitors and participants alike.
Fort Nisqually 2008 — Troops from Steilacoom visit Ft. Nisqually to relive October 1855
On October 3–4, the HFS Living History Detachment (LHD) set-up an encampment at Fort Nisqually, a Tacoma Parks-operated reconstruction of the original Hudson Bay Company fort.
Portraying soldiers from Company A/4th Infantry, the LHD joined with over 100 other volunteers to recreate the sights and sounds of October 1855, a period of uncertainty and tension that would soon be transformed into bitter warfare between American settlers and Native Americans.
As a part of Fort Nisqually’s annual Candlelight Tour, the LHD braved the pouring rain of Friday night and the autumn calm of Saturday night to bring to life in first-person impressions the frustrations, dreams, and camaraderie of soldiers and an officer about to experience a winter that they would not soon forget.
HFS Living History Detachment
The embryonic HFS Living History Detachment welcomes those who are interested in first-person portrayals and immersive living history focusing on Washington State history of the 1840s–60s. If you’re interested in joining us, please contact Board Member John McPherson at historygeeks@comcast.net.
Immersion 2008 — The Fort comes back to life at our 3rd Annual Immersion Event
Volunteers spent Saturday, September 13 immersed in the personalities and activities of soldiers, families, and laborers common to Historic Ft. Steilacoom in 1860.
Officers enjoyed friendly conversation as their wives hosted a social gathering at the Casey home. Enlisted men and contract laborers made repairs to the fort’s buildings and chopped firewood for the post kitchen. Food was served in the impromptu mess hall (Quarters 2) while medicine was dispensed by the post surgeon from his office (located this year in Quarters 3).
All involved had a good time. Our public turnout elicited both positive and excited commentary. We look forward to doing this event again next year!
