Skies to Thunder Over Louisville at Historic Locust Grove's 18th Century Thunder
While a modern-day air show and fireworks display takes place on the downtown waterfront, a historic event five miles up the Ohio River, 18th Century Thunder at Historic Locust Grove, also will cause the skies to thunder over Louisville. Coinciding with Thunder Over Louisville, Historic Locust Grove will present its annual 18th Century Thunder event featuring the explosions of muskets, drilling demonstrations and other noises not likely to drown out the kickoff of the Kentucky Derby Festival.
Companies representing Gen. George Rogers Clark’s troops from the Northwest Campaign will set up a military encampment, bringing not only the sounds of history, but the sights and smells as well. Men, women and children wearing Revolutionary War-era gear help bring the time period to life, according to Locust Grove’s Executive Director Carol Ely.
The reenactment is performed by the Illinois Regiment of Virginia, Ely said. "Every year they come to Locust Grove for this event. We're their first stop, their initial encampment of the season."
The actors' costumes, props and attention to detail create a magical atmosphere. "The work they perform, the foods they cook -- all of it is very evocative of the time period," she added.
The weekend-long event takes place April 16-17, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days.
Owned by Louisville Metro Government and operated by Historic Locust Grove Inc., the homestead is a National Historic Landmark located on 55 acres of the original 694-acre farm established by William and Lucy Clark Croghan in 1790. William Croghan was the brother-in-law and surveying partner of George Rogers Clark, the founder of Louisville who spent the last nine years of his life at Locust Grove.
U.S. Presidents Monroe, Jackson and Taylor all were hosted at Locust Grove, which served as a stopping point for the famed explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark when they returned from their expedition to the Pacific.
Posted on Mar 16, 2011 by Bobbi Buchanan
