Over the last weekend of April, the Geary County Historical Society hosted the third annual History Alive! event, a historic reenactment weekend that invited the public to step back in time and experience history firsthand. Reenactors from across the state of Kansas set up camp—including tents and three tipis—over the weekend, and the three buildings at the Spring Valley Historic Site were also open to the public.
On Friday, the day was reserved for school children and nearly 350 students from Junction City Middle School, St. Xavier Catholic Schools, and the Apostolic Academy had the opportunity to visit with the reenactors, explore the interiors of tipis, get hands on with pioneer chores, experience live fiddle and banjo music, practice archery skills, and learn about life inside a one-room log cabin. On Saturday, the event was open to the public from 10am-4pm, and the site saw 600 visitors over the course of the day.
Along with the same activities the school children experienced, visitors were also able to learn about historic photography methods, practice weaving and crochet, learn about old farming practices and chop wood. Concessions including fire-roasted hot dogs and fresh kettle corn were also available to purchase.
History Alive! Is the brainchild of Geary County Historical Society staff and Scott "Moose" Jury, a local reenactor who specializes in mid-19th century plains history. The first event started with Moose and his tipi and by the third year has grown to include 30 reenactors plus Historical Society volunteers. The Historical Society would like to thank reenactors Moose and Nate Jury, Chris Yackle, Buzz Reichard, Dennis Kindle, Jan Elder, Victoria Lefean, Derrick Doty, Gene and Treena Barnes, and the Old Abilene Town Gunfighters for helping to make the event come to life.
The event was sponsored by the Junction City Breakfast Optimist Club, the United Way of Junction CIty Geary County and the Munson family.