Musical Instruments of the Nineteenth Century and Civil War Era program with Preston Ware, Honey Springs Battlefield and Visitor Center

Honey Springs Battlefield and Visitor Center is excited to announce a fun and educational nineteenth-century instrumental music program to be held at the new Visitor Center on Saturday, April 28, at 1 pm. Preston Ware of the Oklahoma Historical Society will present a program about the historical importance of musical instruments used in the early, mid, and late nineteenth century. The demonstration will include examples of instruments such as rhythm bones, jaw harp, jaw bone, French harp, 1820s fiddle, cigar box fiddle, fretless banjo, bowl back mandolin, and early guitar. This will be a fun and educational day for children and adults alike! Everyone is welcome to wear their favorite Civil War attire to show off during the program. For those who don’t have Civil War attire, the Visitor Center sells Civil War hats, shirts, coats, canteens, games, musical instruments, and much more! The presentation is free to the public, but donations are greatly appreciated.

Music played a major role before, during, and after the Civil War. During the Civil War, musical instruments were played on both the Confederate and Union sides. While bugles, drums, and fifes were played to issue orders on and off the battlefield, many instruments were brought from home and played at camps to pass the time and boost morale. Banjos, fiddles, and guitars were popular instruments played among soldiers. Often, bands representing the Union and Confederate sides would duel the night before a battle. The nineteenth century, particularly the Civil War era, brought together a mixture of different instruments and sounds, which would lead to new types of music and musical traditions, such as the bugle call “Taps.”

After the program, visitors will have the opportunity to tour the battlefield and learn about key aspects of the engagement and those who fought at Honey Springs. Visitors also can see the new Visitor Center, purchase items from the gift shop, and learn about the new exhibits that will open in the near future.

For more information regarding the presentation and the Honey Springs Battlefield and Visitor Center, please email honeysprings@okhistory.org or alynn@okhistory.org, or call 918-473-5572. Honey Springs Battlefield and Visitor Center is located east of US Highway 69 between Oktaha and Rentiesville. The Visitor Center is on the northeast corner of the intersection of East 1030 Road and 11th Street, diagonal from the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame.