Activities & Displays

Living History!

Come and experience history first hand. 

• Artillery! Cavalry! Infantry!  Oh My!
• See what camp life was like for both the Union and Confederate soldiers.  There will be both Union and Confederate camps. 
  
• Did you know that most Confederate soldiers never owned a slave?  So why were they fighting??  Come and ask them! 
• Did you know that about 50,000 Canadians enlisted in the Civil War on both sides... Come find out why!
  
• Come see artillerymen fire real 3in ordinance cannons!
• Cavalry, Artillery, and infantry drills.
  
• We also have a wonderful sutler, who is a full-stocked roving general store that followed a regiment selling the soldiers all types of items they could not get from the government.
  
  NOT JUST MILITARY!  
• Wool spinning and fiber demonstration
  

• Live woodworking demonstration
  
• Victorian games and activities for children!
  

• Find out how women handled home life while the men were away.
• Learn about ladies fashion of the day.
  
• Discover what life was like in rural Vermont during the 1860's! 

Just one of our racks of clothing from last year.

actual photo from 1860's

Visit Our 1860's Photo Booth!
Saturday 11 am - 3:30 pm
Sunday 11 am - 1:30 pm

Have your photo taken in period clothing!  We have a photo booth set up to take photos that look like they were taken in the 1860's, and we are fully stocked with period reproduction clothing for you to dress up for a great souvenir*.  Dress as civilian or soldier. Your choice!  Ever wanted to try on a big hoop dress??  Here's your chance!    *a small donation is requested.

Posing for the photo in our 'studio'

The souvenir photo!

In Their Own Words - Our Cambridge Civil War Soldiers
Ongoing Event Display

As a tribute to the Civil War Soldiers attributed to Cambridge VT, an interesting collection of photos and quotes written by Cambridge soldiers describing their experiences in the Civil War will be on display.  Most quotes are from a book recently transcribed by the Cambridge Historical Society, Personal War Sketches.  The book was compiled in 1894 by the town's Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Post #10.  The GAR was a Civil War veterans organization, the precursor to the Sons of the Union Veterans.  Cambridge's Civil War soldiers documented details of their service, including significant events that happened to them during the War.  We also have photos and letters written by Cambridge's soldiers and a listing of all soldiers who are attributed to Cambridge.  Don't miss this!! It's tremendously interesting!

Canadians in the Civil War
Saturday, August 23rd, 1:30 pm

It is a lesser known fact that the Civil War greatly affected Canadian politics and economics. Also, that between 40,000 and 60,000 Canadian & Quebec men joined to fight in the US/CS conflict, even though they technically broke British & Canadian laws by joining a foreign army. At least 30,000 joined the Northern Union Army & Navy and approximately 10,000 fought in the Southern Confederate Army & Navy. 4 Canadians became Union Generals., and at least 34 Canadians won the “Congressional Medal of Honor” while serving in the Union Army.  Why did so many Canadian enlist in the Civil War?  Come find out!!

Any Chance for Glory
Sunday, August 24th, 12:30 pm

Cambridge resident Keefe Healy presents his original one-act play "Any Chance for Glory," a moving depiction of the return of Captain John Lonergan, hero of Gettysburg, to Burlington in 1863. The play is based on a true account of Capt. John Lonergan's experiences at the battle of Gettysburg.  Lonergan received the Medal of Honor for gallantry in this crucial battle that swept his "Irish Company" into a key role to help repulse Pickett's charge on July 3. His company returned home to public celebrations just three weeks later as their nine-month enlistments expired. Before the play, Liam McKone --author of Lonergan's biography Vermont's Irish Rebel--explains the historical background of the Fenian Brotherhood in the struggle to restore the independence of Ireland. Lonergan led the Brotherhood in Vermont and took part in both its invasions of Canada after the Civil War, not far north of Cambridge. A tour after the play will view the Fenian inscription carved into a brick in the wall of the old inn just across VT 15.

Irish Invade Canada From Vermont
Ongoing booth

When the American Civil War ended, the militant Irish nationalists of the Fenian Brotherhood saw their chance to strike a blow to restore their homeland’s independence.

The new Fenian Historical Society (FHS) will tell the story of the invasions of Canada from Vermont and New York in 1866 and 1870 when armed Irishmen crossed the border, fighting to free Ireland from British misrule. The exhibits and lectures by FHS president Liam McKone focus on Captain John Lonergan, hero of the battle of Gettysburg and chief of the Fenian Brotherhood in Vermont. McKone is the author of Lonergan’s biography, Vermont’s Irish Rebel and will have signed copies of his book for sale. In addition, Visitors who join the FHS will be shown a brick in a Cambridge village house with its carved inscription about the Fenians.

Civil War Era Church Service
Sunday, Aug. 24th, 9:30 am - at Cambridge United Church

The service will include period hymns and a reading of the names of the Cambridge soldiers who had died in the Civil War in 1864.  This year's service will have an abolition theme.

Period dress is not required, but if you desire – dress to suit!

All are welcome!  All faiths & denominations, civilians and soldiers, Union and Confederate!