Friends of Middle Creek, Prestonsburg Tourism talk about upcoming Battle of Middle Creek

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Video summary

The Friends of Middle Creek and Prestonsburg Tourism are preparing to host the annual Battle of Middle Creek Reenactment, scheduled from September 11th through the 13th. The event opens with an educational day designed specifically for local schools before transitioning into a full reenactment experience. Patrick Davis, president of the Friends of Middle Creek, describes the project as a labor of love that strives to balance historical authenticity with practical realities. Since the actual battle took place in January but is being performed by modern people in September, organizers focus on accuracy while acknowledging these logistical differences. To ensure the event remains educational and respectful, they employ skilled historical interpreters who engage with the public about this pivotal moment in history. The Battle of Middle Creek holds profound significance as it effectively decided control over the Big Sandy Valley following Union forces pushing Confederates out of Eastern Kentucky. Once the Union secured victory here, Confederate troops were never able to regain a foothold in the region again. The battle is also historically notable for its connection to James Garfield; he served as the commander of the Union forces during this engagement and later became the 20th President of the United States. Davis emphasizes that it is rare for any community to claim such direct involvement in shaping American history, making preservation of these stories essential for future generations. Beyond preserving local heritage, the reenactment serves as a major catalyst for tourism and economic activity within Prestonsburg. Visitors attending the event do not just observe history; they actively contribute to the local economy by shopping at businesses, purchasing fuel, staying in area hotels, and exploring other regional attractions. The organizers hope that families will come out to enjoy the weekend atmosphere while learning something new about their shared past. By combining entertainment with education, the event invites people from all over to experience a unique slice of American history firsthand. Ultimately, the goal is for everyone to visit Prestonsburg, engage with its rich attractions, and spend quality time together in a family-friendly environment. Whether attending as students on an educational field trip or tourists looking to explore Civil War history, participants are encouraged to immerse themselves in this valuable piece of heritage. The event stands as both a celebration of the past and a driver for present-day community vitality, ensuring that stories like Garfield's leadership at Middle Creek continue to inspire and inform visitors long after they leave.

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The Friends of Middle Creek and Prestonsburg Tourism are getting ready for the annual Battle of Middle Creek Reenactment. This year's reenactment will take place September 11th through the 13th with day one serving as an education day for local schools. President of the Friends of Middle Creek, Patrick Davis, tells us more about the significance of the battle. >> It's a labor of love. And one of the things that we shoot for is we we should we do shoot for authenticity, but we also understand that we're also reenacting a battle that happened in the middle of January in the middle of September. And we're working with modern people and not soldiers from the 1860s, but we try to work for authenticity. We also try to make sure that we have some good historical interpreters there to speak to the public because this is a valuable piece of of our history that we're trying to make sure stays preserved. It was pivotal because it kind of decided who controlled the Big Sandy Valley. Once the Union pushed the Confederates out of Eastern Kentucky, they were never able to really gain a foothold here again. It's also significant in that it built the presidency of James Garfield, who was the commander of the Union forces. >> Need support [music] for a child facing anxiety, ADHD, or behavior challenges? Call Bluegrass Healing Partners [music] at 606-653-2873. >> The reenactment also helps boost numbers for tourism in several different ways. For more information about the event and how to schedule field trips, call Prestonsburg Tourism at 606-886-1341. >> Well, not everybody can claim that they have a Civil War battlefield that helped make um our 20th president the 20th president of the United States. Um so, it helps Prestonsburg in the fact that that people not only come to see the history and and the reenactment and all that, but they come and they shop. Um and they get gas, they stay overnight in our in our hotels. Um they visit other attractions. I just want to tell everybody to come out and enjoy it. You know, learn a little something about your history, visit Prestonsburg, visit some of our attractions, um, and just, you know, come out and spend the day or the weekend in general as as a family atmosphere. >> Reporting for Mountain Top News, I'm Nick Collam.