Have you ever wondered how soldiers and civilians entertained themselves when they had free time in the 19th century? Visit the Fort Gibson Historic Site on Saturday, October 18, and Saturday, October 25, to learn about soldier entertainments and pastimes enjoyed in the 1800s.

Entertainments such as card games, dice, and baseball were welcome diversions from the monotonous life of an enlisted soldier.

On Saturday, October 18, Seth Goff will be at the palisade to instruct visitors on playing period-correct games and sports from the 1840s and teach about card games on the American frontier. Whether soldiers played a shady game of poker under the nose of their commanding officers when they were supposed to be working, or honest folks played an innocent game of “Beat Your Neighbor with a Stick,” card games have been a steady source of entertainment for centuries.

On Saturday, October 25, Seth Goff will be at the palisade to instruct visitors on how baseball was played hundreds of years ago. While many enlisted soldiers’ entertainments, like gambling, were discouraged by their commanding officers, baseball was sanctioned and encouraged by officers because it provided exercise and promoted team building among the enlisted men. The game was playable with “teams-of-one” rules and only three players.

Living history programs are included with the price of admission and run from 10 a.m. until noon and again from 1 to 4 p.m. Both programs will take place at the log fort at 110 E Ash Street in Fort Gibson.