War of 1812 tourists to invade area

War of 1812 tourists to invade area
BY MONICA WOLFSON, THE WINDSOR STAR

The War of 1812 will cause yet another invasion of the Windsor area, but this time it will involve armies of tourists.Area museums and historic sites are gearing up for the 200th anniversary of the war with the United States. Municipalities are planning celebrations and events commemorating history and attempting to relive it.In February, the Windsor Community Museum will unveil Living in 1812, its new collection demonstrating what life was like in 1812 from the French, English, black and aboriginal perspectives."It demonstrates what it was like living during a war," said Madelyn Della Vale, curator. "There was lots of starvation, the burning of pickets. I've dug up a lot of illustrations because there were no photographs at that time."The Hough House, which is home to the Windsor Community Museum on Pitt Street, was built shortly before the war and was occupied by American troops in the summer of 1812 before the British recaptured it. The Americans returned in 1813 and occupied the area until the end of the war in 1815."This building is really important historically," Della Vale said. "We have hardly anything left from that time period."Museum staff will be in costume and have activities for children during Windsor's birthday celebrations in May and will play a big role on Aug. 25 during the Capture of Detroit commemoration event at the festival plaza on the waterfront. During the celebrations the Windsor Symphony Orchestra will play new music it wrote for the occasion. Windsor will also host a tour of historic homes as part of Open Doors on Aug. 29.Fort Malden unveiled its newly renovated museum space in July. All the museum cases were redone and the flow of the exhibit changed, said Cari-Lyn Hawksworth, site manager. There are new pieces and wooden palisades built outside to give the fort a more authentic flair. Museum staff will host a recruitment meeting in February to attract volunteers to help run some of the events at the fort this summer.Fort Malden will host its annual July 1 celebrations, but it will also be one of the main venues during the Roots to Boots festival on the civic holiday weekend in August. Once trained, volunteers can help fire muskets, portray soldiers marching in parades and help usher tourists through the site."We are getting calls now from people planning summer vacations and want to know what events are happening," Hawksworth said. "There's an increase in interest because of the bicentennial."Park House museum in Navy Yard Park in Amherstburg is restored to look like it did in the 1840s, but one room is undergoing renovations to resemble the inside of a trading post, which is what the building was in 1812 when it was owned by the Northwest Trading Company. Along with the new exhibit, in the summer there will be a special exhibit of toy soldiers set up in battle configurations.On Aug. 25 there will also be a re-enactment by the Provincial Marine of the capture of U.S. vessel Cayahoga that will be visible from Navy Yard Park.Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island is creating a brochure marking 1812 sites, peace gardens, noting events and other regional attractions. It should be available by May.Read more: http://www.windsorstar.com/1812+tourists+invade+area/5910649/story.html#ixzz1hgA6tALw