Fort Massac Encampment marks 52nd year of frontier history

The 52nd annual Fort Massac Encampment drew participants to Fort Massac State Park in Metropolis, Illinois, on Oct. 17-18 to demonstrate 18th and early 19th-century military life through drills and mock battles.

The event serves as a platform for public education, with reenactors portraying units from the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, and the War of 1812.

Fort Massac Encampment

Jim Phillips, a reenactor who has participated in such events since 1983, said the mock battles illustrate historical military tactics for the public. "The tactics of the time were very similar. And so they do like one grand battle," Phillips said. "So people can kind of see how the tactics worked and everything, and it seems like everybody enjoys it."

Lance Woolbright, a participant whose unit draws members from five states including Illinois and Kentucky, said the weekend offers educational opportunities beyond standard classroom curricula. "For me, it's a lot of teaching the public what the history was," Woolbright said. "You know, they learn so much in school, but there's a lot of it that they can't touch on in a little bit of time that they have in school."

Woolbright encourages attendees to engage directly with reenactors to learn about specific historical periods. Phillips noted that even minor sparks of curiosity among visitors validate the effort required to maintain the displays.

"If they can fulfill one little thing of curiosity, then we have done our job on history so we don't forget," Phillips said.