The Garrison at Fort Loudoun State Historic Park will come back to life at 10 a.m. March 23-24. The event is free and open to the public.

A “roll call” summoning re-enactment soldiers to their posts, just as it would have been done 250 years ago, signals the beginning of the Garrison weekend. Musket and artillery firing demonstrations will take place several times throughout the two-day event.

Park visitors will get to see an 18th century infirmary, as well as soldiers’ barracks, the commander’s quarters and a Cherokee encampment. Demonstrations will include a variety of tasks and skills common to a frontier fortification, including cooking, laundering and blacksmithing. Costumed living history re-enactors will go about their garrison duties throughout the weekend, taking time to interact with visitors.

The visitor center and museum at Fort Loudoun will be open. Visitors can view a short film on the history of Fort Loudoun, along with some of the artifacts recovered from the historic site.

Fort Loudoun State Historic Area is a 1,200 acre site on the location of one of the earliest British fortifications on the western frontier, built in 1756. Nearby were the principal towns of the Cherokee Nation including Tenase, namesake of our state, and Tuskegee, birthplace of Sequoyah. Today the fort and the 1794 Tellico Blockhouse overlook TVA’s Tellico Reservoir and the Appalachian Mountains.

For more information, visit www.fortloudoun.com.

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