King Philip's War events this weekend in Mystic
Mystic — It’s the country’s forgotten war.
King Philip’s War, which pitted six Indian tribes against English settlers, lasted from 1675 to 1678, and is barely, if ever, mentioned in history classes.
Many colonial towns and Indian villages in New England were attacked and destroyed and there were many casualties on both sides before the settlers were victorious.
For the second year in a row, the Denison Homestead Museum on Pequotsepos Road will try to shed some light on the war, with encampments of Indians and settlers, battle re-enactments this weekend and a seminar on Sunday by an expert on the conflict.
“King Philip’s War is an event that is not widely discussed or portrayed in Connecticut. So, we decided that this is a good chance to portray a part of Connecticut history that is not known well,” said Homestead Curator Penny Havard. “Most people do Civil War and Revolutionary War re-enactments. This is different.”
The land where the 1717 Denison Homestead now stands has a connection to the war, as it is on the same land where Capt. George Denison had a home and where colonists and their Indian allies camped and trained during the conflict. This weekend's encampments will be on the same meadow.
On Saturday the encampments will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Battle re-enactments will take place each day at 1:30 p.m. Both events are free.
Those who want to attend Sunday’s seminar from 9:30 to 11 a.m. with guest speaker Lt. Col. Jason W. Warren are asked to go to the homestead website, www.denisonhomestead.org, and register under the events page. The seminar is free but space is limited.
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