Has Charlottesville killed Civil War reenacting?

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Has Charlottesville killed Civil War reenacting?

Thoughts gentlemen?

I (and the few other commenters) can't be the only ones with opinions on this matter, and hopefully not the only ones willing to discuss it.

No, you're not. But the subject is exhausting and more than a little depressing.

All of this should certainly serve as a "gut check" for us. We need to be sure that we are really serving history, really serving the event, and really challenging ourselves to have impressions (physical and otherwise) that are grounded in history and supported by documentation.

Empathy
Empathy
Empathy
...the lack of it (on every side and in our social-media society as a whole) is what has brought us to this place.

Living history hobbies can be powerful teaching tools for kids and the public in general. The general public may not know about logwood dye or progressive rifling, but they can smell a poser and a faker with an agenda. Be a humble servant of the hobby and a teacher and things should be just fine.

[woodsda]

Re: Has Charlottesville killed Civil War reenacting?

I am with John that it is exhausting to think, discuss, etc. about the subject. Unfortunately for the reenacting community (especially Confederate) this image is what people see in their minds when talking about living history. As a whole we will have reeducate people about why we do what we do, or we do what we do without public viewers.

[NMVolunteer]

Re: Has Charlottesville killed Civil War reenacting?

I don't envy you Confederates right now, but I still think this won't have a large impact on the living history and reenacting community.

[Craig L Barry]

Re: Has Charlottesville killed Civil War reenacting?

So, fewer Texans in wool coats and riveted Levi's, and more living history events through the NPS? This sounds like a good thing.

Can't disagree with that. Did an event at STRI this past weekend and doing the CHCH anniversary programs this coming weekend. CS was uniform for both events by the way, so the park service is still telling the story.

[mg8814]

Re: Has Charlottesville killed Civil War reenacting?

So what do you mean by exiting of baby boomers? I am one just would like to know. My Mother is 95 years old and a granddaughter of a Confederate veteran. What did we baby boomers do? My Dad was a WW11 veteran who landed at Omaha Beach in 1944. His Gr. Grandfather was a member of CoK 51NCT who was at Ft. Wagner and captured and sent to Elmira NY and went through hell. I do these LH,s to honor them and what they believed in. when I go to WV I think about my GrGr Uncle who was in 12th Ga. He had no slaves nor did my GrGr Uncles in 50th Ga at Gettysburg and Chickamauga. I am sorry if I offended anyone with this post. I am proud of my ancestors who answered the call to protect their homes and loved ones.

[PMFerringer]

Re: Has Charlottesville killed Civil War reenacting?

So what do you mean by exiting of baby boomers? I am one just would like to know. My Mother is 95 years old and a granddaughter of a Confederate veteran. What did we baby boomers do? My Dad was a WW11 veteran who landed at Omaha Beach in 1944. His Gr. Grandfather was a member of CoK 51NCT who was at Ft. Wagner and captured and sent to Elmira NY and went through hell. I do these LH,s to honor them and what they believed in. when I go to WV I think about my GrGr Uncle who was in 12th Ga. He had no slaves nor did my GrGr Uncles in 50th Ga at Gettysburg and Chickamauga. I am sorry if I offended anyone with this post. I am proud of my ancestors who answered the call to protect their homes and loved ones.

I believe he was simply observing that a large amount of baby boomers are currently leaving the hobby for a variety of reasons, leaving a void. That void is being filled by a trickle of new guys in the ranks which is a good and bad thing. It is good that there are new guys but the new blood is a smattering of hee haw idiots that don't do research and are a mockery to the original soldiers and hobby, guys that do their research and are a flexible valuable interpretive tool (the good guys), and the far leaning self righteous that know a lot and could be good interpreters but their modern politics skew their ability to be effective making them as bad as the hee haws.

[The Chesterfield Rifleman]

Re: Has Charlottesville killed Civil War reenacting?

I side with Curt. And I'm honestly excited about the future of the authentic side of the hobby.

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Has Charlottesville killed Civil War reenacting?

I side with Curt. And I'm honestly excited about the future of the authentic side of the hobby.

Amen!
The hobby is shrinking, but it won't go on forever.
Fewer reenactors = Lower demand.
Lower demand = Fewer vendors.
Fewer vendors... We'll have to be creative for a while as it becomes tougher to find proper gear. But, I'm sure there are enterprising folks out there who step in to fill the void.

Living history is a powerful teaching tool and an engaging way to learn. I don't see the hobby ending soon. We just need to persevere a bit.

[The Chesterfield Rifleman]

Re: Has Charlottesville killed Civil War reenacting?

Mr. Wickett,

If you hop on Facebook a dig a little you'll find handfuls of enterprising folks making incredible gear. That, plus the older guys that have been making stuff on the side for a long time will keep us well stocked for at least a while longer.