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Happenings in the Keweenaw Peninsula July 13, 2003 (Updated July 14, 2003) Text © 2003 Michele Anderson and Fort Wilkins Press Release. Photo © 2002 Michele Anderson. Logo © 2003 and courtesy Fort Wilkins.

Fort Wilkins programs offer living history, talks by experts, fun for visitors

FORT WILKINS -- From Copper Country history to nature trails to kayaking tips, the visitors' programs at Fort Wilkins Historic State Park, near Copper Harbor, offer something for everyone in the family. While living history programs feature costumed role players engaged in traditional nineteenth- and early twentieth-century activities, the schedule of evening presentations reads like a list of Who's Who in expertise on Keweenaw history, geology, wildlife, natural features, photography, music, kayaking and mountain biking.

On Tuesday, July 15, Keweenaw Krayons of Mohawk presents "Traditions Alive" -- a living history program that includes costumed role players depicting the early 1900s as well as demonstrations of period dance, period games and homemade ice cream making. Visitors can listen to live old-time music with Mike Swaney and Friends and do a waltz, polka and schottische with Becky Weeks, the Traditions Alive dancers and other area folk dancers.

Organized by local historian Wil Shapton, the "Traditions Alive" project, originally known as "History Alive," has been in existence for about two years. The group did their first role playing of Copper Country historical characters during the June 2002 Calumet Heritage Celebration weekend.

Wil Shapton, local historian, who organized the Traditions Alive (formerly History Alive) workshops with the help of Keweenaw Krayons of Mohawk, chats with role player Heather Maclean of Houghton during the 2002 Calumet Heritage Celebration. Heather is wearing a 1910 outfit she made with her mother, Ann Maclean. (June 2002 photo © 2002 Michele Anderson)

Sponsored by Keweenaw Krayons, a non-profit arts organization located in the Ramblin' Rose Arts Center in Mohawk, Traditions Alive allows area students to participate in workshops where they learn to research local history and people.

On Saturday, July 19, "Fort Wilkins by Candlelight" offers visitors a chance to cast a giant shadow as they time-travel through Fort Wilkins, visiting with costumed interpreters stationed at an officer's parlor, married soldier's quarters, post hospital and company headquarters. Barry James, Curator of Education, Michigan Historical Center, will present "What They Carried: Civil War Uniforms and Equipment." Following the program, light refreshments will be served in the restored 1844 mess hall.

History comes alive again on Saturday, August 2, with the "Battery D 1st Michigan Light Artillery Civil War Encampment" that recreates life of the Civil War era. The weekend encampment will be open to park visitors from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Fort Wilkins logo depicts a U.S. soldier of the 1870s, when the fort was occupied by a military garrison. The era is re-created this summer during living history programs for visitors. (Logo © 2003 and courtesy Fort Wilkins. Reprinted with permission.)

On Sunday, August 3, Battery D will recreate army life of the period as well as demonstrate artillery and small arms drills, period cooking and soldiers' pastimes.

Fort Wilkins was built in 1844 because of the fear that labor unrest and strikes being experienced in Detroit at the time would spread to miners in the Keweenaw Peninsula. The anticipated labor problems never materialized. Consequently, the soldiers stationed at the fort from 1844-46 spent most of their time breaking up bar fights rather than quelling labor riots.

The fort was re-commissioned in 1869 to help alleviate a military housing shortage caused by the large numbers of soldiers waiting to muster out of the army following the end of the Civil War. The situation was so critical that soldiers were literally camped in tents outside the walls of Ft. Wayne, Mich., near Detroit.

The Fort Wilkins Living History Program continues daily through August 22. Costumed interpreters will be acting as members of the military garrison. Visitors are invited to leave the present and join them in the year 1870.

July - August offer Fort Wilkins Evening Programs

A series of educational evening presentations by Copper Country experts began on July 8 and continues through August 29. All evening programs begin at 7:30 p.m. EDT, indoors at the Fort Wilkins West Barracks. (Special event times are indicated in the schedule below.) There is no admission charge with a daily or annual Michigan State Park pass.

"Our speakers volunteer their time to share their expertise and love of the Keweenaw," says Barb Wachowski, Fort Wilkins seasonal ranger. "It's a wonderful opportunity for the public and visitors to experience!"

Evening Program Schedule

JULY 

Sunday, July 13: "Isle Royale by the Captains That Take You There" -- Captain Ben Kilpela, Isle Royale Queen
Monday, July 14: "Sea Kayaking" -- Sam Raymond, Keweenaw Adventure Company
Tuesday, July 15: "Keweenaw Krayons Presents Traditions Alive" -- Wil Shapton, Director (Special Event -- Program begins at 7 p.m.)
Wednesday, July 16: "Lighting the Way -- A History of the Copper Harbor Lighthouse"-- Barry James, Curator of Education, Michigan Historical Center
Thursday, July 17: "Copper Harbor's Special Place: Hunter's Point" -- Richard Powers, Grant Township Supervisor
Friday, July 18: "Music and Memories of the Civil War" -- Mel Jones, Great Grandson of a Civil War Veteran/Director of Gitchee Gumee in Eagle River
Saturday, July 19: "Fort Wilkins by Candlelight" (Special Event ) "What They Carried: Civil War Uniforms and Equipment" -- Barry James, Curator of Education, Michigan Historical Center
Sunday, July 20: "Isle Royale by the Captains That Take You There" -- Captain Ben Kilpela, Isle Royale Queen
Monday, July 21: "Introduction to the Keweenaw National Historical Park" -- Tom Baker, Park Ranger, Keweenaw National Historical Park
Tuesday, July 22: "Mountain Biking" -- Tony Schwenn, Keweenaw Adventure Company
Wednesday, July 23: "Lighting the Way -- A History of the Copper Harbor Lighthouse" -- Barry James, Curator of Education, Michigan Historical Center
Thursday, July 24: "History of the Copper Country" -- Rev. Robert Langseth
Friday, July 25: "That Agreeable Season Winter" -- Jim Rooks, Copper Harbor Guide and Naturalist
Sunday, July 27: "Isle Royale by the Captains That Take You There" -- Captain Ben Kilpela, Isle Royale Queen
Monday, July 28: "Copper Harbor's Special Place: Hunter's Point" -- Richard Powers, Grant Township Supervisor
Tuesday, July 29: "Introduction to the Keweenaw National Historical Park" -- Tom Baker, Park Ranger, Keweenaw National Historical Park
Wednesday, July 30: "Delaware Mine" -- Tom Poynter, Owner, Delaware Mine
Thursday, July 31: "Treasure of the Keweenaw" -- Jean Ellis, Co-Chair, Keweenaw Heritage Center at St. Anne's.

AUGUST

Friday, August 1: "Music and Memories of the Civil War" -- Mel Jones, Great Grandson of a Civil War Veteran/Director of Gitchee Gumee in Eagle River
Saturday, August 2: "Battery D 1st Michigan Light Artillery Civil War Encampment" (Special Event)
Sunday, August 3: "Battery D 1st Michigan Light Artillery Civil War Encampment" (Special Event) 
Monday, August 4: "Homegrown Strings" -- Jim, Lonny, Joanna, Ben and Leah Janofski, Blue Grass Musicians
Tuesday, August 5: "My Keweenaw" - Gray Bjornrud, Professional Photographer ( Local and Aerial Photography Depicting Changes and Seasons in the Keweenaw)
Wednesday, August 6: "Delaware Mine" -- Tom Poynter, Owner, Delaware Mine
Thursday, August 7: "Lake Superior Agate" -- Scott Wolter, Author of Lake Superior Agate and Lake Superior Agate -- One Man's Journey. Jake Anderson, Superior Divers Center owner, will assist in the presentation.
Friday, August 8: "Along the Trails to the Estivants" -- Jim Rooks, Copper Harbor Guide and Naturalist
Sunday, August 10: "Isle Royale by the Captains That Take You There" -- Captain Ben Kilpela, Isle Royale Queen
Monday, August 11: "Geology of the Keweenaw" -- Tom Baker, Park Ranger, Keweenaw National Historical Park
Tuesday, August 12: "Sand Hills Lighthouse" -- Mary Mathews and Bill Frabotta, Keepers of the Sand Hills Lighthouse Inn, Ahmeek, Mich.
Wednesday, August 13: "That Agreeable Season Winter" -- Jim Rooks, Copper Harbor Guide and Naturalist
Thursday, August 14: "Black Bears" -- Doug Wagner, Wildlife Biologist, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Friday, August 15: "Music and Memories of the Civil War" -- Mel Jones, Great Grandson of a Civil War Veteran/Director of Gitchee Gumee, Eagle River
Saturday, August 16: "Michigan Wildlife Skulls: Birds and Mammals" -- Ed Miller, Collector
Sunday, August 17: "Isle Royale by the Captains That Take You There" -- Captain Ben Kilpela, Isle Royale Queen
Monday, August 18: "Sea Kayaking" -- Sam Raymond, Keweenaw Adventure Company
Tuesday, August 19: "City of Bangor Story: She's Not as Shiny as She Use To Be" -- Mark Rowe, Trustee, Keweenaw Historical Society
Wednesday, August 20: "Lighting the Way -- A History of the Copper Harbor Lighthouse" -- Barry James, Curator of Education, Michigan Historical Center
Thursday, August 21: "Copper Harbor's Special Place: Hunter's Point" -- Richard Powers, Grant Township Supervisor
Friday, August 22: "Geology of the Keweenaw" -- Tom Baker, Park Ranger, Keweenaw National Historical Park
Monday, August 25: "Growing Up in Copper Harbor" -- Rich Jamsen, Copper Harbor Lighthouse Tour Operator
Tuesday, August 26: "Copper Harbor's Special Place: Hunter's Point" -- Richard Powers, Grant Township Supervisor
Wednesday, August 27: "Lighting the Way -- A History of the Copper Harbor Lighthouse" -- Barry James, Curator of Education, Michigan Historical Center
Thursday, August 28: "Mining History of the Copper Country" -- Jay Rowe, Local Historian
Friday, August 29: "Black Bears" -- Bob Sprague, Interpreter, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park 

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