Military Through the Ages returns to Jamestown Settlement this weekend with over 500 reenactors

HISTORIC TRIANGLE – Jamestown Settlement’s time-honored tradition of celebrating military history continues this weekend with the return of the large-scale Military Through the Ages event.

For the past four decades, military powers have gathered at the site to present a unique chronological display of military history, all in a two-day span.

More than 500 re-enactors from nearly 40 distinct military units will muster on museum grounds depicting hoplites, Vikings, knights, Privateers, sailors and soldiers on March 21 and 22.

Units are set to travel in from across the East Coast to portray soldiers and military encounters ranging from Greek times and the medieval period all the way to the wars of the 20th century.  

Visitors will have the opportunity help make inert musket cartridges with the 42nd Royal Highlanders, dance with the Piper and see sailors perform maintenance on a jolly boat. Children can participate in Morse code challenges and engage with a bayonet dummy from the 3rd U.S. Regular Infantry Regiment.

On Saturday and Sunday at noon, comparative artillery-firing demonstrations will showcase weapons ranging from a 17th-century artillery piece to a 105mm howitzer.

A military pass-in-review will depict armed forces from 500 B.C.E. to today with the Virginia National Guard on Sunday at 3 p.m.

Music is slated to be provided throughout the weekend by Ladies for Liberty and the 29th Infantry Division Band from the Virginia Army National Guard.

Sutlers will set up shop to sell a variety of goods, including reproduction and historically inspired jewelry to colonial-era reproduction pewter and blacksmithing, 18th-century reproduction leather work and gunsmithing of the past.

Military Through the Ages is included with Jamestown Settlement museum admission. Residents of James City County, York County and the City of Williamsburg receive free admission with proof of residency.

For additional information, visit jyfmuseums.org.