Horseshoe Bend

My boys at the overlook for the battlefield at Horseshoe Bend

I got sunburned Saturday. And I loved every minute of it. We spent a good part of our day at Horseshoe Bend for the 198th anniversary of the battle that occurred there in 1814 during the War of 1812.

Southern treats for our picnic

 We brought a picnic lunch of egg salad sandwiches, chips, vegetables, oranges and Grapico and Moon Pies for dessert, with us and enjoyed it under blue skies filled with puffy white clouds.

 The woods were full of blooming dogwoods and other trees and it couldn't have been more lovely. I remarked to my husband that it was warm but not hot and he agreed that it was cool but not cold. :) Just right.

Cherokee man with turkey feather robe

 There were several tents set up with Creek and Cherokee people doing demonstrations--weaving, dyeing, stone tool making (arrow heads, spear points, etc.) and leather working among others.

Musket with bayonet attached

Volunteers preparing for the cannon firing demonstration

 We also got to see a musket firing demonstration and a cannon firing demonstration as well as participate in a Creek Stomp Dance.

Women's footwear for the stomp dance

A couple of my boys participating in one of the stomp dances

Native Americans participate in a stomp dance led by a Muscogee Medicine Man (on the left in the brown hat and blue shirt)

I thought we'd go and spend maybe an hour or so there but we ended up being there for nearly four hours. Before we left we drove around the battlefield, did a quick walk-through of the museum and then made our way home.

The horseshoe shaped bend in the Tallapoosa River

Our family loves history so spending a gorgeous spring Saturday immersed in it was just about perfect.

Do you love history? Have you been on any historical adventures lately? I'd love to hear about them.