Living History

On Saturday evening after he was done performing at the coffeshop Luke exclaimed "The early 1800's village is having a candlelight tour!". This place is quite near us geographically and he offered to drive, but we despaired of going due to admission fees. When we got home a quick check on the internet proved the park was free!

So well past nightfall we traversed the country roads up to the village/park. It's an enclosed town from the 1830's to 1850's with many of the original buildings; most are rebuilt or refurbished. A crew of recreators is on hand at all times. We got there an hour to closing, at 8PM, and were shocked that cars were parked down to the highway. Visions of LA parking danced in my head as we saw cars parked up on medians and the grass. Happily we found a space and headed in.

Besides one small museum at the opening no electric lights were present and once you passed the gates to go in it was pitch dark with only tiny pinpoints in yellow glow here and there. Hundreds of people were walking around us but we could barely see them. Some had brought their own lanterns, but all we had was the DVD camcorder! We only visted a few of the many houses and other buildings there due to long lines to get in. A few of the recreators had pitched tents outside and there was even an army tent and a giant conestoga wagon. Inside of one building beautiful music was playing and it turned out to be a very talented woman playing a large, complicated dulcimer.

Back outside we looked up at the sky and were awestruck. Far enough away from regular civilization and electric lights we were in such total darkness that not only could we see the usual stars, but the starfields behind them that you usually only see in photos. Wow. I just cannot describe how beautiful that was... There were too many people trodding around for us to safely lay on the ground and stare at the heavens, though.

I cannot wait to attend this event again next year. Thanks God! Thanks Luke! Hurrah!