Asking, “When did the War of 1812 take place?” is a little bit of a trick question: The conflict between the United States and British-ruled Canada went on for three years.
For those marking the bicentennial of the war, there is much to commemorate in 2013. (That was the year Buffalo was burned down by the British, for instance).
Wednesday, officials from the Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council and other local tourism groups announced a hefty schedule of events.
Brian Merrett, CEO of the Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council, said, “Our cannons are still loaded for 2013 and will be until the end of 2014, bringing history alive for people on both sides of the peaceful border that is a result of the conflict 200 years ago.”
Here are some of the events on the U.S. side of the border (for more, and for events in Canada, go to www.discover1812.com):
• The monthly 1812 Lecture Series continues the third Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Buffalo History Museum, One Museum Court. (For more information, call 873-9644 or visit www.buffalohistory.org.)
• The 53rd annual Western New York Armed Forces Week, which starts May 5, includes a number of events commemorating the War of 1812, including a luncheon and military ball. (For information, visit www.wnyafn.com/afw/)
• Blue Coats Along the Niagara is a daily living-history program at Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in July and August.
Costumed re-enactors perform daily activities from the period, including military demonstrations, cooking and blacksmithing.
Also at the fort: The War of 1812 Encampment will be Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, with “soldiers” from both armies setting up camp and on Aug. 31 re-enacting the Night Battle of Dec. 18, 1813. (Call 745-7611 or visit www.oldfortniagara.org.)
• Forest Lawn, 1411 Delaware Ave., will present 1812-themed tours each Friday at 2 p.m. from June through September. (Call 885-1600 or visit www.forest-lawn.com.)
• The three-masted schooner Empire Sandy visit is expected to arrive at the Buffalo & Erie County Naval and Military Park on Aug. 5 for a three-day visit.
Also, a visit of the tall ship Lynx, a replica of an 1812 schooner, is tentatively scheduled to be at the park Sept. 13 and 14. (Call 847-1773 or visit www.buffalonavalpark.org.)
•The exhibit “By Fire and Sword: War in the Niagara Theatre, 1812-1814” opens Sept. 12 in the Buffalo History Museum and will include commemorative material from Buffalo’s Centennial Commemoration of the War of 1812.
• The Burning of Buffalo Commemoration will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 7 on Squaw Island, where the Black Rock Militia will build a bonfire including a wooden replica of the Village of Black Rock. (Visit www.blackrockhistoricalsociety.com.)
• The Tuscarora Heroes Monument will be unveiled at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Historical Association of Lewiston, 469 Plain St., to honor the small band of Tuscarora men who fended off a British attack on Lewiston on that date in 1813. (Call 754-4214; visit www.tuscaroraheroes.com.)
• The 200th anniversary commemoration of the Capture of Fort Niagara begins at 3 a.m. Dec. 19 at Old Fort Niagara, with events happening “in real time” as they did leading up to the daybreak capture of the fort.
email: citydesk@buffnews.com
For those marking the bicentennial of the war, there is much to commemorate in 2013. (That was the year Buffalo was burned down by the British, for instance).
Wednesday, officials from the Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council and other local tourism groups announced a hefty schedule of events.
Brian Merrett, CEO of the Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council, said, “Our cannons are still loaded for 2013 and will be until the end of 2014, bringing history alive for people on both sides of the peaceful border that is a result of the conflict 200 years ago.”
Here are some of the events on the U.S. side of the border (for more, and for events in Canada, go to www.discover1812.com):
• The monthly 1812 Lecture Series continues the third Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Buffalo History Museum, One Museum Court. (For more information, call 873-9644 or visit www.buffalohistory.org.)
• The 53rd annual Western New York Armed Forces Week, which starts May 5, includes a number of events commemorating the War of 1812, including a luncheon and military ball. (For information, visit www.wnyafn.com/afw/)
• Blue Coats Along the Niagara is a daily living-history program at Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in July and August.
Costumed re-enactors perform daily activities from the period, including military demonstrations, cooking and blacksmithing.
Also at the fort: The War of 1812 Encampment will be Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, with “soldiers” from both armies setting up camp and on Aug. 31 re-enacting the Night Battle of Dec. 18, 1813. (Call 745-7611 or visit www.oldfortniagara.org.)
• Forest Lawn, 1411 Delaware Ave., will present 1812-themed tours each Friday at 2 p.m. from June through September. (Call 885-1600 or visit www.forest-lawn.com.)
• The three-masted schooner Empire Sandy visit is expected to arrive at the Buffalo & Erie County Naval and Military Park on Aug. 5 for a three-day visit.
Also, a visit of the tall ship Lynx, a replica of an 1812 schooner, is tentatively scheduled to be at the park Sept. 13 and 14. (Call 847-1773 or visit www.buffalonavalpark.org.)
•The exhibit “By Fire and Sword: War in the Niagara Theatre, 1812-1814” opens Sept. 12 in the Buffalo History Museum and will include commemorative material from Buffalo’s Centennial Commemoration of the War of 1812.
• The Burning of Buffalo Commemoration will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 7 on Squaw Island, where the Black Rock Militia will build a bonfire including a wooden replica of the Village of Black Rock. (Visit www.blackrockhistoricalsociety.com.)
• The Tuscarora Heroes Monument will be unveiled at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Historical Association of Lewiston, 469 Plain St., to honor the small band of Tuscarora men who fended off a British attack on Lewiston on that date in 1813. (Call 754-4214; visit www.tuscaroraheroes.com.)
• The 200th anniversary commemoration of the Capture of Fort Niagara begins at 3 a.m. Dec. 19 at Old Fort Niagara, with events happening “in real time” as they did leading up to the daybreak capture of the fort.
email: citydesk@buffnews.com