The Southern Lancaster County Historical Society will host the annual Living History Encampment and Tactical Demonstrations on Friday, May 16; Saturday, May 17; and Sunday, May 18.

The event will be held at the Robert Fulton Birthplace Museum and Garden, 1932 Robert Fulton Highway, Quarryville. There is a nominal fee for parking; admission is free.

"(People) should come to learn history by walking through it, by being in it," said Joel Moore, who will be a presenter. "They can talk to the generals. President Lincoln will be there. President Jefferson Davis will be there. They can witness a battle, showing how battles took place during that part of history. They will learn history by living it for a day."

On May 16, the event will be open from noon to 4 p.m. for camp setup. Homeschool students are invited to visit, with an educational program that will run from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. A food vendor will be on-site for all three days.

The encampment will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 17. Visitors can meet the generals at 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. and meet the presidents at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. There will be a battle re-enactment at 1 p.m.

On May 18, camps will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. People can speak with the generals and President Davis in the morning prior to a church service at noon. The battle will begin at 1:15 p.m.

In addition to touring the camp and speaking with the participants, there will be Civil War collectors on hand, and authors will sign books.

Attendees will have the chance to learn about Civil War-era medicine, and a blacksmith will provide demonstrations. The tactical demonstrations will include firearms and artillery, as well as a battle re-enactment.

Director Stanley T. White said the Southern Lancaster County Historical Society hosted a French and Indian War winter encampment on March 20, 1993. "It was bitterly cold, and the enactors endured a bad snowstorm," he added.

White noted that the current version of the Civil War encampment at the Robert Fulton Birthplace was started by Jonathan Welch and family, who camped out in June 2014. "They built a small camp area and exhibited a nice variety of artifacts around their campfire, including a Civil War saddle, bridle and sword, and cooking implements," White said.

In 2016, "living history" became an integral part of the encampment by adding costumed actors portraying generals, majors, and presidents. "A visitor could ask questions and get a well-informed, in-character answer to their questions," said White.

Moore, a former teacher, held a smaller event at the Intercourse Library for three years, featuring a day encampment and presentations in the community room. When he was looking for a new event to join, he met Welch. "I was looking around, and Jonathan heard about it and invited me," said Moore.

Moore was introduced to John Hauck at another event seven years ago, and Hauck has been bringing his friends to the Quarryville encampment ever since. "It has grown over the years," Moore said. "Now we have Union and Confederate encampments and a battlefield."

Some participants donate to the historical society, and Moore will make a donation from proceeds of sales of his books.

He stated it is critical that people remember the impact of the Civil War. "As time goes on, that's a piece of history you see very little of anymore," said Moore. "Yet it was a significant character change in this country. It was like an earthquake in our history."