Frontier history to come alive at Fort Griffin

By Sam Waller

Fort Griffin State Historic Site will offer a look at the way things used to be this weekend with its annual Living History Days.

The event will run 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 7-8.

“All folks have to do is come out to Fort Griffin,” site manager Mitch Baird said. “It’s free for the kids and free for the public on Saturday. We just want everybody to come out and have a good time.”

Baird said he again expects another good crowd for Friday’s School Day.

“Right now, it looks like there are over 500 school kids planning to be here,” Baird said  on Monday. “We’re going to have pretty good participation, but we’re not sure yet how many reenactors will be here.”

Baird said the school crowd is expected to be a little smaller than last year.

“This year, we’ve lost schools that have gone to four-day weeks,” he said. “A lot of the schools we would normally have can’t be here because they’re not going to be in school on Friday. We’ve got a lot of home schools that are interested.”

Baird said the public is welcome on both days, though Friday is geared primarily for students.

Among the event’s attractions are such holdovers as the site’s Texas Longhorn herd, camel corps, artillery crews, and settlers as well as several new items.

“It’s going to be similar to what it has been in the past,” Baird said.

Event Info

The event begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 5:00 p.m. each day. Baird said the main gate will be propped open to allow for better traffic flow upon exiting.

Scheduled events include flag raising and lowering ceremonies on the large parade field.

There are plans to have food vendors on site this year to provide snack and lunch options.

“There will be vendors  on the parade ground, but there is no internet access out there,” Baird said. “If people are buying things on the parade ground, they’re going to have to bring cash. Inside in the gift shop, we can take checks or credit cards.”

Baird said Drummer Boy Ice Cream will be among the treats available.

“I know the kids really like their ice cream and ice cream floats,” he said.

While Fort Griffin has no structures that will be off-limits because of renovation work this year, Baird said there could be some unfinished work on walking paths.

“We’re trying to get all the walking paths resurfaced so they’re wheelchair- and stroller-friendly,” he said. “It was still being worked on early this week.”

As for the encampments themselves, Baird said there are still restrictions.

“The kids will have access to everything,” he said. “What we do not want is for kids to climb on the ruins.”

The Fort

Fort Griffin’s ruins and reconstructed structures include a mess hall, barracks, first sergeant’s quarters, bakery, powder magazine, and a hand-dug well.

During its days as an active military post, Fort Griffin provided a source of stability and safety for an emerging community. It was home to more than 465 soldiers, officers, their families, and a number of civilians.

The park is located on U.S. Highway 283 about 14 miles north of Albany.

To check for campsite availability or more information about Living History Days, call 325-762-3592.

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