FORT BOONESBOROUGH, Ky. – See a weekend of early American history come to life at the 18th Century Trade Fair at Fort Boonesborough State Park May 24-25, 2008.
 
The 18th Century Trade Fair will provide visitors the opportunity to experience a social, political, and business gathering of merchants, traders, artisans, Native Americans, militia members, beggars, longhunters, scouts, and other characters of the American frontier.

“You can listen to period music, visit camps and shop for 18th century goods as you compare life today to life 225 years ago,” said Bill Farmer, fort manager. “You’ll be able to watch a printer producing pages on a reproduction 18th century printing press, see how wool is spun into threads on the spinning wheel, and how threads are woven into cloth on the loom.”

Visit and shop in the Transylvania Store, stocked with goods that were available in the 18th century. Ask the woodworker about all the tools in his shop as he uses them to make useful items. Learn about Kentucky’s early history, take a walk into the woods to visit Native American camps, find out how a flintlock gun works, help the blacksmith by working the bellows, visit the newly opened museum, and check out the park gift shop in the fort.

The Fort Boonesborough Foundation will be selling concessions during this event, so your lunch will help support the ongoing historical programming of this historic site. The event, which is free with paid admission to the fort, runs from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 24-25. You can find more information and pictures of last year’s Trade Fair at www.fortboonesboroughlivinghistory.org.

For more information, contact Bill Farmer at 859-527-3131 ext. 216 or email ftboone@bellsouth.net.

Fort Boonesborough is located at 4375 Boonesborough Road, just north of Richmond. It is 5 miles off I-75 at Exit 95, and about 10 miles south of Lexington. With its strategic location in central Kentucky, Fort Boonesborough is within easy driving distance from most of the commonwealth.

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The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 53 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Commerce Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. Each year, Kentucky parks draw 7 million visitors and contribute $317 million to the economy. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our Web site at http://www.parks.ky.gov.