The Raid at Martin's Station

Witness history come alive as hundreds of living historians re-enact life at Joseph Martin's frontier fort. Watch as two cultures clash and the flames of war are once again ignited on Virginia's frontier. Activities include tours of Cherokee Warrior and Colonial Militia camps, frontier fort life, and 18th century merchants and colonial traders selling their wares. Various seminars on 18th century topics will be conducted by world renowned historians and lecturers. Frontier battles between the natives and the settlers highlight the event at 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Saturday. War is imminent.

The Raid at Martin's Station reenactment can be better described as an "on-going living history demonstration" rather than a "reenactment" by its usual definition. While the event is hosted and coordinated by the Wilderness Road State Park, the Friends of Wilderness Road sponsor the event. The activities associated with the Raid and trade fair are the combined efforts of the local civic, community, and school groups, 18th century suttlers and merchants, and various military and native reenactment groups.

"...a small, strong cabin of Captain Martin's, being a little detached from the rest, and locked, having a table and some other things in it, I climbed up to the top of the chimney, and flung it down until it was so low that I could drop into the house without hurting myself, not being able to support myself with my feet against the logs, and cut the lock of the door loose. By this time my friend had got his hog-he being best able to walk - filled a keg with water, and collecting some wood, getting in some corn, we barred (the) door, knocked out some port-holes, set the table in the middle of the floor, and spread our arms and ammunition in order, and waited..." - George Rogers Clark, 1776