The world of "Living History", whether a Frontier Rendezvous or a Civil War era re-enactment, has experienced an increase in popularity recently, both in the number of participants and events as well as the number of visitors attending these events. Participants take on personas and duplicate as well as possible the life these personas would have lived. Most reenactors take great care in using only exacting recreation of clothing, gear, and equipment from the past. Furthermore, many take on the role of teachers, explaining how our ancestors coped with the daily rigors of life. Visitors to these events can expect to find participants portraying fur trappers, Native Americans, craftsmen and artisans of all types, traders, soldiers, Victorian ladies, and more! The Middle Mississippi River Valley is host to a number of annual "Living History" events.

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Standing Bear Winter Gathering
Quincy, Illinois
January
To celebrate the return of our national bird, the great Bald Eagle, the Standing Bear Council hosts its annual Winter Gathering with a variety of activities throughout the weekend. The event honors Native American traditions with a variety of sacred ceremonies and entertainment features. Bald Eagles will be present all weekend for close up viewing with the blessing of the eagle ceremony to be held on Sunday at 10:30 am. Native American dancers and drummers will perform throughout the event. Dancers dressed in Native regalia are invited to dance with prizes to be awarded. Native American vendors and food booths will be on site both days. There will be a children’s educational and activity area. There will also be information on the Native American Mounds in the Quincy area and history of the leader Chief Keokuk.

Farming Ways of the Frontier
Defiance, Missouri
April
In April the Historic Daniel Boone Home is where the frontier comes to life! Browse through produce, plants, and crafts from local farmers and artisans who rely on many of the same methods the pioneers once did. Visit with living history interpreters in the various historic buildings and try your hand at various heritage activities such as fire-starting or paper marbling. The IL-MO Tractor and Engine Club is usually on site to showcase various machines. Bring the family out for this fun and engaging event.

World War II Weekend
St, Louis, Missouri
April
Stroll through military camps and talk with re-enactors representing the troops of the United States, Britain, Canada, the Soviet Union, and Germany from World War II at Jefferson Barracks County Park. Battle reenactments will take place on Saturday and Sunday. There will also be military vehicle displays, weapons demonstrations and a canteen dance.

Faust Village Open Houses
St. Louis, Missouri
April - July
Faust Park is home to many local structures rescued from destruction by real estate development. On selected dates the buildings will be open to park guests. Visitors to Faust Historic Village may tour the 1850s Conway house with its period herb garden and outdoor kitchen, the circa 1848 Metz log home, and the 1880s Hoch House. As many homes will be staffed with docents in period dress as volunteer participation permits.

Historical Children's Festival
Saint Charles, Missouri
May
Celebrate National Kids to Parks Day by attending this annual event at the First State Capitol of Missouri State Historic Site. Come live, learn and play as children in the 1820s did. Families can stroll the grounds where Missouri’s first legislators met to organize Missouri into statehood in 1821. Children can pick up an event passport at the site and participate in hands-on activities to earn prizes. The more stamps in their passports, the more prizes they can earn on their journey through the 1820s. Activities may include candle dipping, butter churning, quill pen writing, baby animals, 1820s children’s games and toys, period skills and craft demonstrations, period dressed interpreters, learning about bartering, statehood and much more! Spend the day relaxing and having fun 1820s style!

Lewis & Clark Departure Days
Hartford, Illinois
May
Located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, just several miles south of the current mouth of the Wood River is Camp River Dubois. This facility, operated by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency features the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and a replica of the 1803-04 winter encampment. Every year in early May visitors are able to relive the departure of the Lewis and Clark Expedition as reenactors set up at the site to recreate the preparations for that historic journey. On the grounds are craft exhibitors demonstrating early American skills such as woodworking and candle making and there will be recreations of marching drills, cooking and shooting demonstrations.

Memorial Day at Fort D
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
May
For the four years of the Civil War, Fort D protected the city of Cape Girardeau from attack. Now the old fort comes to life once more. First observed after the end of the Civil War, Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) honors the memory of U. S. soldiers who have died in military service. Join local re-enactors (Civil War, Native American, and French & Indian) as they portray a timeline event at Fort D. The renovation and interpretation of Fort D is a special project of the 1st Missouri Engineers, a unit of the Turner Brigade, which is a group of Missouri Union volunteers and civilians of the Civil War period. Their commissioned and non-commissioned officers have many years' experience in reenacting and provide a wealth of information about the time period to visitors.

Rendezvous at Fort de Chartres
Prairie du Rocher, Illinois
June
Each June, Fort de Chartres State Historic Site hosts the largest rendezvous in the Midwest with over a thousand participants, hundreds of encampments, and thousands of visitors joining in on the festivities. Based on the traditional French fur trappers rendezvous where trappers and traders would meet at a predetermined location to trade furs for necessities, the rendezvous was the highlight of the fur trappers year and is the highlight of Fort de Chartres’s extensive calendar of historical events and activities. Costumed reenactors portray a variety of personas including colonial military units, mountain men, Native Americans, settlers, merchants, and more. Historical demonstrations are located at various locations on the grounds and there are periodic demonstrations that include period music, military drills, and musket and cannon competitions.

Lincoln Days Civil War Reenactment
Pittsfield
June
You are invited to historic Pittsfield to experience this annual living history event. Watch as individuals in Union and Confederate encampments participate in military drills, along with a ladies tea, fashion shows, and performances by President and Mrs. Lincoln, General U.S. Grant, and General Robert E. Lee. Throughout the weekend there will be many quality period vendors, children's games, period crafts and demonstrations, live music, and exhibits of local history.

Historic Fourth of July Celebration
Fort Madison, Iowa
July
Come and celebrate the birth of our nation in the military fashion of the early Republic. Old Fort Madison’s staff and volunteers will recreate the Independence Day celebrations commonly seen at United States military posts across the country in the early nineteenth century. Watch as the garrison fires thirteen shots in accompaniment with the officers' thirteen toasts in a period commemoration of the America's freedom. The main event is a ceremony featuring the firing of 18 cannon shots that begins at 1 pm on the 4th.