GULF BREEZE — Gulf Islands National Seashore will begin offering regular black powder demonstrations at Fort Pickens for the first time in over 20 years.
Black powder demonstrations are public interpretive programs featuring living historians dressed in period uniforms firing blank rounds from reproduction weapons.
The programs, which begin in late spring, will help visitors understand the life of soldiers at the park’s forts, the uniforms they wore, and the equipment they used.
Through grant funding, the park was able to purchase uniforms, reproduction small arms, and other equipment for the program.
Additionally, the park used donations collected by Eastern National, which operates the park bookstores, to purchase a reproduction 10-pounder Parrott rifle cannon.
Park staffers and volunteers will conduct regular small arms and cannon demonstrations.
“We are very excited for the return of black powder demonstrations,” said Superintendent Dan Brown. “We are especially thankful for the donation making regular cannon demonstrations available to our visitors for the first time in park history.”
The park is now recruiting volunteers to join the Fort Pickens Living History Crew. Volunteer positions are open to the public.
Email guis_information@nps.gov for more information.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Black powder demonstrations return to Fort Pickens