Ashokan Civil War Days
An encampment that offers visitors a living history experience
of one of the most turbulent times in American History.
Ashokan Civil War Days 2011
“Answering Lincoln’s Call”
Saturday, May 21
New York State and the Civil War
Commemorating the Civil War Sesquicentennial
Honoring the Memory of the Hudson Valley’s Citizen Soldiers
Sunday, May 22
Special Armed Forces Appreciation Day
Step back in time in an authentic 19th-century setting, discover our heritage and immerse yourself in the social, political, technological, economic, literary and cultural transformations that helped shape our nation.
Join us on May 21 and 22 at Ashokan Center, Olivebridge, NY to commemorate the “boys in blue” from the Hudson Valley who fought to preserve a more perfect Union. Ashokan Civil War Days, now in its third year, is a weekend Sesquicentennial Event for the entire family.
On Sunday May 22nd from 10 am – 4 pm join us for “Armed Forces Appreciation Day” at Ashokan Center. Free admission to all active military personnel, veterans, reenactors and their families as we honor and thank them for their service.
Tickets available at the gate.
• Saturday Encampment Program 10 am – 5 pm / $10 adults ($5 ages 5-12)
• Saturday evening Period Concert and Ball 7-10 pm / $15
• Sunday Armed Forces Appreciation Day 10 am – 4 pm / $5
Ages 4 and under admitted free of charge both days.
• Click for advance Reenactor Registration Form
In 1861 New York was the country’s most populous state. Almost half a million New York State volunteers, seventeen-percent of the total troops raised from the Northeastern states, joined the ranks of the Federal Army. Among them were thousands of men from the Hudson River Valley who left their cities and small towns and took up arms to fight in the Civil War. The Empire State boasted the largest and best-organized militia in the country. With the outbreak of war in the spring of 1861, the New York State militia immediately sent 11 regiments to defend the nation’s capital at Washington D.C. Today, many Hudson Valley village greens are adorned with monuments that commemorate the patriotism and heroism of local sons who suffered wounds and died on Civil War battlefields many miles from home. These public memorials and Ashokan’s Civil War Days living history encampment serve to honor the memory of all veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic and remind us what they sacrificed to save the Union.
This year’s Sesquicentennial encampment will pay tribute to those Hudson Valley regiments who were called up and/or mustered for active service during the period 1861-62. The exploits and military campaigns of the vaunted 20th NYS Militia, and the 120th and 150th Volunteer Infantry Regiments, will be heralded through life of the soldier encampment programs and exhibits.
The encampment is open to the public on Saturday May 21st beginning at 10 a.m. Our goal is to provide event visitors with an inspiring and meaningful mid-19th century living history experience that will evoke the memory of our forebears who lived during one of the most turbulent times in American history. Ashokan Civil War Days takes place at the same Catskill Mountain setting that inspired “Ashokan Farewell”, the musical center piece of Ken Burns’ PBS series The Civil War.
