The South will RISE again!

Blue against Gray. Brother against Brother. Families split right down the middle. This was the reality of the American civil war. In 1862 a rebellious South, seeing Northern heavy handedness as infringing on their individual rights went to war with its northern neighbors. The result was four grueling years of warfare and bloodshed that still has an impact on society today.

Every autumn We in Bureau county are fortunate to be able to revisit that period of history though with far less fatal results. The annual Blue and Gray festival has been held now for over twenty years and is a huge draw for historians, fellow photographers, and tourists alike. There are battle reenactments, men and women walking around in period dresses and uniforms, and authentic displays of what camp life was like for men, and women too.

It's loud, heart pounding, and a HUGE treat to watch. For an afternoon, you can step back thru a doorway in time and see what it was like to fight for the Union, or to defiantly shout a rebel yell. I highly recommend you mark your calendars and plan to attend the next one.