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Key West hosts Civil War Festival at Fort Zachary Taylor this weekend

JILL Zima Borski's photo
Florida Keys Travel Examiner

The roar of cannon fire and the sight of soldiers in Civil War uniforms are to greet visitors at oceanfront Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park Friday though Sunday, Feb. 10-12, during the annual Civil War Heritage Days festival.

Key West was the only Deep South port that remained in Union hands throughout the Civil War, and Fort Taylor was a vital base for the Union blockade of Confederate ships. Captured blockade runners were forced to anchor in the waters just offshore.

Highlights of the family-friendly festival are to include a Friday afternoon parade down Key West’s Duval Street to the historic fort, Saturday’s battle between land forces and ships portraying blockade runners at sea, Sunday’s staged trial of a blockade runner based on an 1862 court case and ongoing living history encampments of Union and Confederate Civil War re-enactors.

Events are set for 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the fort and surrounding 56-acre state park.

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Re-enactors in period costume are to depict military personnel, craftsmen, musicians and civilians of the era. Festival visitors can watch a patrol skirmish and staged military maneuvers, view period crafts demonstrations and learn what soldiers’ lives were like in the 1860s.

The fort and park can be accessed from an entrance on Southard Street past Thomas Street. Daily entrance fees are $2.50 per person on foot or bicycle, $4.50 for a single-occupant motorized vehicle and $7 for a vehicle carrying two people and 50 cents for each additional passenger. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free.

To understaddn the fun you could have, see my 11-photo slide show of Fort Zach at http://www.examiner.com/florida-keys-travel-in-miami/fort-zachary-taylor-key-west-picture?slide=29925081

Event information: www.floridastateparks.org/forttaylor/, 305-292-6713 or 305-292-6850
Florida Keys visitor information: www.fla-keys.com or 1-800-FLA-KEYS (1-800-352-5397)
Social: facebook.com/floridakeysandkeywest · twitter.com/thefloridakeys · youtube.com/FloridaKeysTV

Fort Zachary Taylor hosts Civil War Heritage Days Feb. 10-12 in Key West.
Fort Zachary Taylor hosts Civil War Heritage Days Feb. 10-12 in Key West.
Photo credit: 
Jill Zima Borski

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, Florida Keys Travel Examiner

Jill Zima Borski is a long-time freelance writer who serves on the board of directors of the Florida Outdoor Writers Association. She has lived in Islamorada in the Florida Keys for nearly 16 years. In addition to Examiner, she is working on an autobiography and hopes it is the next "Eat, Pray,...

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