Cook Forest Living History Weekend

24-05-24 All day
Cook Forest State Park
Phone:814-744-8407
Address: Cook Forest State Park (Office), 100 Route 36, Cooksburg, PA, United States

See below for exact locations of each event:

Please join us (PA DCNR) for a fun filled weekend of living history as we journey through various historical eras of the United States: French & Indian War, Colonial Period, Civil War, Spanish American War, and Pennsylvania’s lumber heritage. Join living historian and master story-teller Paul Stillman, historical interpreter Dave Clark, and historian-songwriter Van Wagner, as they take us through these noteworthy periods of American history through first person character portrayals, hands-on demonstrations, and song.

Friday, May 24 from 800-1000pm

‘Seneca Point by Candlelight’ Take a walk back in time with historical characters from the past. Please meet at the Fire Tower parking lot where a 1750’s French Marine will guide us through the ancient rocks of Seneca Point in search of old Seneca & Abenaki warriors on their trek south along the Catawba Trail.

Saturday, May 25 from 900-1100am

Paul Stillman as a ‘Seneca Indian’ A Native American visits us from the past on his trip from New York as he travels south along the historic Olean Trail. Please bring your camp chairs and meet at the Log Cabin Inn Environmental Learning Classroom where he will be preparing for his trip.

Saturday, May 25 from 100-230pm

Paul Stillman and Dave Clark as ‘The North Meets South’ Come see the Civil War through a New York regimental line soldier and a rebel of the Army of Northern Virginia. Please bring your camp chairs and meet at the Log Cabin Inn Environmental Learning Classroom.

Saturday, May 25 from 800-900pm

‘An Evening with Ben Franklin’ by Paul Stillman One of the founding fathers of our country. Science, glass music, and philosophy are only part of Doctor Franklin’s life. Join the elderly stateman as he reminisces about his involvement in the French & Indian forts of the 1750’s. Please bring your chairs & blankets and meet at the Ridge Camp Park Amphitheater.

Sunday, May 26 from 100-200pm

Dave Clark as a ‘Private of the 71st New York Regiment During the Spanish American War’ Private Charles Johnson Post recounts the charge up San Juan Hill. Post, an illustrator for William Randolph Hearst’s newspaper, endured the hardships of a soldier in the “Splendid Little War in Cuba”. Please bring your camp chairs at meet at the Log Cabin Inn Environmental Learning Classroom.

Sunday, May 26 from 230-330pm

Paul Stillman as a ‘Colonial Craftsman’ Learn how things were made during the early part of the 18th century during a quill and bamboo pen fabrication workshop. Please bring your camp chairs at meet at the Log Cabin Inn Environmental Learning Classroom.

Sunday, May 26 from 430-600pm

‘Tall Timber: Van Wagner’s Timber Heritage Program’ Celebrate the past and present of Pennsylvania’s timber heritage with historian, songwriter, and forester, Van Wagner, as he demonstrates dozens of tools spanning 200 years of logging history. He will also focus on the old rafting days when millions of board feet of Pennsylvania Timber were assembled into various styles of rafts and piloted down our streams and rivers. Please bring your camp chairs and meet at the Log Cabin Inn Environmental Learning Classroom.

Sunday, May 26 from 800-900pm

‘Evening Concert by songwriter Van Wagner’ Featuring acoustic songs about the cultural and natural heritage of Pennsylvania at the Ridge Camp Park Amphitheater. Van’s music has been featured on the History Channel, Country Music Television, and several film productions. Be prepared to not only be entertained, but also inspired to learn more about Pennsylvania’s history. Don’t forget your chairs and blankets!

Related upcoming events

  • 02-08-24 All day

    Clarion River Boating Program: Portland Mills-Arroyo
    Cook Forest State Park, Park Office
    $50
    100 RT 36, Cooksburg, PA 16217-0120

    Cook Forest State Park will be conducting a 6-mile interpretive paddling program from Portland Mills to Arroyo Bridge for experienced canoeists/kayakers only. This section of river is rich in local history. We will pass evidence of the old log booms & mills at Portland Mills as well as bridge remnants of the Clarion River Railway. Come see where John Cobb’s mill was located before he was flooded out at Beech Bottom. Bald eagles & osprey often make an appearance in this secluded wilderness section of the National Wild & Scenic Clarion River. We will meet promptly at the Park Office and car-pool to the starting point up-river. Remember to pack water, protective footwear, raingear, and change of clothes. Don’t forget your fishing poles! Cost is $50/boat with check or money order made out to ‘Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’. Boats and lunch provided to those who register by 7/30. Pre-registration required by contacting the Park Office at (814)744-8407. Program limited to 10 boats. Prior Cook Forest kayak training participants receive a 50% discount. See you on the river!

    Friday, August 2, 2024 8:30am to 4

  • 03-08-24 All day

    Please bring your river sneakers, swimsuits, and snorkels to the Park Office as we drive to nearby watersheds to search for and identify hard to find underwater creatures. Various species of fish, mussels, snakes and salamanders often make an appearance. This is truly a wilderness experience. Expect no public bathrooms. Bring lunch & water. Children must be with a participating adult.

    Saturday, August 3, 2024 10am to 2pm

  • 10-08-24 19:00 - 10-08-24 20:00

    Friends of Cook Forest and Slapstick Productions present Comedy in the Forest at Verna Leith Theatre with David Kaye, Lisa Chimenti-Foster, and Doug Sluk!

    Proceeds will benefit the Ridge Campground Playground Project.

     

    Click here for tickets!

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