Cannon fire could be heard radiating from along the banks of the Muskingum River as passengers aboard the Lorena Sternwheeler experienced a riveting Civil War reenacted battle as they traveled between Zane’s Landing Park and Riverside Park Friday evening July 21 and all day Saturday, July 22.
The Lorena Sternwheeler Civil War Reenactment and Encampment which had its inaugural event in 2013, returned this year after taking a break in 2020 because of COVID. About four or five batteries consisting of over 50 reenactors from different areas within and outside the state were involved in this year’s event.
“We’ve been doing it for about eight years,” said Paula Erlenwein from McConnelsville, Ohio. “We have not done this for several years because of COVID and other things so it has been a while.—It is really cool when they go down the river!”
Presales for tickets for the event went quickly, Friday’s evening cruise completely sold out days before the event. It is no wonder why. Once passengers boarded the Sternwheeler at Zane’s Landing Park a group of musicians playing music from the period who were set up at the rear of the boat and a group of “armed soldiers” greeted guests and accompanied them on their trip down the river. A few reenactors spoke before their departure, providing a bit of historical information. Earlier in the day on Saturday, Abe and Mary Lincoln sat in on a couple of the rides. Several cannons and groups of reenactors were set up along the river and would fire as the boat passed by all the while, an onboard cannon sat at the Sternwheeler’s bow ready to return “enemy fire”. As the reenactors in the Sternwheeler responded with their cannon the “soldiers” on land would retreat and set up a new vantage point staying in the “battle”. A surgical tent was set up near the dock where the Sternwheeler rests between outings. Down the river at Riverside Park reenactors had made camp and two additional cannons were perched waiting for the Sternwheeler to arrive and turn around before heading back to the dock at Zane’s Landing Park. The entire trip took about 45 minutes in total.
Although the Civil War event takes place just once a year, rides on the Lorena Sternwheeler can be booked throughout the season. For tickets and more information visit www.visitzanesville.com/Lorena.
