Forest Preserve Event Offers Living History Of Revolutionary War Artillery

ROMEOVILLE, IL — Visitors to Isle a la Cache preserve in Romeoville can learn more about history in a live demonstration of 18th-century Revolutionary War artillery on Nov. 9, the forest preserve shared in a news release.

Volunteer re-enactors portraying voyageurs and settlers will fire the artillery from noon to 3 p.m. during a Living History Encounter: 18th-Century Weaponry program. Visitors can drop by anytime to view the weapons.

Alexander Hamilton’s New York Provincial Company of Artillery, a recreated Revolutionary War unit, will fire an authentically reproduced full-sized 3-pound field cannon, a type widely used in 18th-century America, according to the preserve.

Other 18th-century firearms, such as pistols, rifles, fowling pieces (a type of shotgun) and muskets, will also be fired. There will be exhibits and demonstrations of Native American weapons from the same era.

“People should attend the program just for the sensory experience,” said Jenna Krukowski, an interpretive naturalist at Isle a la Cache. “How often do you see and hear antique weaponry fired? These are the styles of firearms that were used in early America. It will be like walking onto an American Revolution movie set.”

Volunteers presenting the firing demonstrations have a deep understanding of and passion for the era and will be available to answer questions and interact with attendees, she added.

“Whether you are interested in the weapons themselves, the context in which they were used or just early American life, you will walk away learning something,” Krukowski said.

Participants can expect demonstrations about every half hour, plus opportunities to examine furs and maps, compare Native and French weapons, craft a gorget (a small piece of armor once used to protect soldiers’ necks) and more, the preserve said.

Registration is not required.