Hey guys! I'm new here, just wanted to introduce my self. My name is Sam, I live in California and I'm currently studying history at CSU Chico. I love military history especially, and I hope to specialize in early twentieth century conflict, especially WWI. Glad to be here, hope I can learn something!
Oooops... I hadn't seen your formal intro here and just welcomed you in another thread. I'll look forward to talking about military history with you, and most likely learning from you because WWI is one I haven't spent a lot of time studying yet. I'm heavily into the Civil War at the moment and making a database of the Gettysburg dead (only about 150 away from 10,000 names now!) You'll often find me wandering around Gettysburg and Antietam. I've also done some work with Vietnam issues and some with WWII but just scratching the surface with that so far.
I'm interested in WWI history as well! Welcome to the forum, I hope we both learn as much as we can throughout these forums. And @Kate, have you ever been to Olustee in Florida?
I haven't! I looked it up a few years ago and then never thought of it again. I even go to Florida at least once a year. LOVE St. Augustine and you'll find me there every spring (I'd add every late fall as well if I could!) and of course I've done Orlando a few times. (Does anyone go to Florida without checking out Orlando at least once?!) But anyhow, thank you for reminding me. Happen to know the distance from St. Augustine to Olustee? (No biggie if you don't... I *do* know how to use Google but since I'm here, I thought I'd ask.)
Thank you for the kind replies everyone! I'm surprised to see so many people in my introduction thread, looks like this forum gets some good traffic. I'm looking forward to great conversations with you all.
@Kate, It's probably a good hour and a half, two hours. I'm not exactly the best with estimating times, but it takes me about an hour+ to get to St. Augustine, and I live near Olustee. I went with my JROTC unit during high school to look at a bit of the reenacting of it during February, and it was definitely worth it.
Thank you... two hours is doable and sounds as if it would make a good day trip from St. Augustine. I heard *this morning* that one of the Gettysburg park service guys wants to see Olustee... which is kind of spooky since it can go many months, even years without hearing the word, and now here it is twice in as many days. Guess I'll be planning that day trip.
@SPWhitlow, how did you like the reenactments there? I've always been interested in that as a job. A few years ago I went to Virginia and saw some of the historic towns there.
I've been to Gettysburg once before as well, and Valley Forge, I thoroughly enjoyed both. @Spowys, we just went and saw them in their camps the day before the actual reenactment battle. They set up camp for the weekend, and there's various stores you can buy things from and talk to everyone at. We had a leadership assignment with JROTC to do, so we did that and then got to walk around and have fun at the stores. They did shoot off a cannon once every hour or so, so that was cool. I do believe though that they are just volunteer reenactors, and don't actually get paid for it. I could be wrong though, but one of my friends for sure doesn't get paid. It's still worth looking into though, I have heard that it is a very fun hobby!
Oh, I wasn't sure exactly what you meant! Now I see you meant battle reenactors. I meant more along the lines of historical tourist places. Like I was saying, I was in Virginia and all the historical sites had employees in costume that were basically tour guides.
Oh, ok, yeah, I think people actually can make money doing that. The battle reenactors didn't get paid to my knowledge though.
There are tons of living history places all over the country that pay workers to be uniformed guides, yes. I'd love to do that, but those hoop skirts would do me in, I'm afraid. (I'm not just guessing, I have one... could never wear it for a full day!) Reenactors generally aren't paid, no... but it would be so much fun! Best of all, I think, would be a job as an NPS park ranger. Not sure I could keep a straight face with some of the questions I've heard people ask, though.
Yeah, some people can ask some ridiculous questions! I think overall it'd be worth it though, the experience would be unforgettable. Plus, you could work in a place that you enjoy being in every day!
I've never been able to get a straight answer... it's like an inside joke and they beat around the bush with twinkling eyes with their non-answers... but rumor is that more often than anyone would imagine, they're asked (not always by children!) how those soldiers at Gettysburg fought around all those monuments.
It would be difficult to stay in character! Also it must be strange pretending you're from a different century 8 hours a day and then coming home and eating take out and watching TV. But at least your work uniform is unique!
