Old Settlers Day has been a beloved festival in Waynesville, Missouri since 1980. This year’s event is shaping up to be incredibly exciting! The entire weekend is jam packed with living history activities and things to see and do! Following are four things that you should not miss during the festivities:
1. The Camps– Be sure to visit the Union and Confederate camps. These camps are the living quarters for the re-enactors for the weekend. As living historians, the re-enactors are very detail orientated, and their camps present an authentic look at living conditions that soldiers experienced during the Civil War. General Grant’s Field Headquarters features a period telegraph office complete with an operator for demonstrations. Don’t miss the Kickapoo Trace Muzzleloaders Camp which highlights the mountain men who explored and settled our country before 1840. Their camp will include fire starting, trapping, dutch oven cooking, and blacksmithing demonstrations. The camps will be open to the public both Saturday and Sunday.
Courtesy of Civil War Courier
2. Drills & Inspections– Saturday will include horsemanship drills, infantry drills, cavalry drills, and artillery drills, beginning at 11:00 a.m.
Courtesy of Civil War Courier
3. Reenactments– Reenactments will take place Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday at Noon. Saturday’s Civil War March reenactment will begin at the site of Fort Waynesville on Fort Street, proceed on Lynn Street to the site of the Old Stagecoach Stop and continue to Waynesville City Park. This march will reenact a notable event in Pulaski County’s Civil War history and will feature a skirmish that turns into a battle. Sunday’s battle reenactment begins at Noon at Waynesville City Park. History will come for alive for those in attendance.
Photo courtesy of Civil War Courier
4. President Abraham Lincoln and General U.S. Grant– Living historians will portray President Lincoln and General Grant during Old Settlers Day. President Lincoln (Lance Mack) will be a part of the opening ceremonies on stage at 10:00 a.m. and will also be speaking on stage, later that day, at 12:30 p.m. General Grant (Wayne Issleb) can be found at his Field Headquarters and will address the crowd Saturday, from the stage at 10:30 a.m.
Courtesy of Civil War Courier
In addition to these four things there is much more to see and do at Old Settlers Day! Make sure to:
- Watch the opening volley at the opening ceremony
- Explore the living history encampment at the Old Stagecoach Stop
- Browse the 1903 Route 66 Courthouse Museum
- Remember the tragedy of the Trail of Tears at Roubidoux Springs Cherokee Campsite (National Park Service Trail of Tears National Historic Trail site)
- Tap your toes to the music of The Back Porch Players
- Listen to the Celtic sounds of musician Connor Howley
- Dance a jig with Flower O’Scotland Dance Troupe
- Be mesmerized by the motion of Beyond The Circle Dancers
- Dance the night away at a period dance
- Worship at a period church service
- Shop vendors, sutlers, and unique downtown businesses
Courtesy of Civil War Courier
To learn more about Old Settlers Day visit www.Route66Courthouse.com and www.facebook.com/events/1668769670079314
To learn about more things to see and do in Pulaski County, Missouri, visit www.PulaskiCountyUSA.com
2016 Old Settlers Day Schedule
Pulaski County USA 
Love to go but don’t have a dress to wear, just an old flour sack. “Will that do?”😊