History comes alive at Revolutionary Rendezvous

This article was written in partnership with Visit Dubois County.

Musket fire and campfire smoke will fill Ferdinand State Forest as reenactors bring frontier life to Dubois County’s Revolutionary Rendezvous, a free living history event marking the nation’s 250th anniversary.  The three-day event, being held April 10 through 12, features battle demonstrations, period crafts, Indigenous cultural programs, and hands-on activities for children.

Often, the key to developing a love for a subject lies in how it is presented.

For Kathy Tretter, one of The Revolutionary Rendezvous’s organizers, the event merges two passions, both of which emerged from a classroom at Ferdinand Immaculate Conception. 

“I fell in love with history as a junior in high school with my teacher, Sister Generose, who brought history alive,” Kathy said. “We would do little made-up skits in class about what we learned.”

Those skits brought history to life for her and inspired a lifelong interest. So much so that on family vacations, her children and grandchildren often ask, “Are we going to do something for history?”

That, and her love for theatre, is likely why she fell in love with the idea of The Revolutionary Rendezvous as part of the county’s celebration of the United States’ 250th Anniversary, 

“I’m that type of person who always says, ‘Hey kids, let’s put on a show,’” she laughed.

Whitney Lubbers, director of Visit Dubois County, had met with the Vincennes Visitors Center last summer. They introduced her to Frank Doughman and Joe Herron, members of the Spirit of Vincennes. This group hosts an annual Revolutionary War reenactment in Vincennes at the site of the only Revolutionary War battle in Indiana.

“They were extremely helpful, kind, and willing to assist,” Whitney explained.

The Vincennes event began in 1976 as part of the country’s 200th anniversary and was organized by the city and Vincennes University.

“It was such a huge success that the next year, a local committee was organized to put on an event every year, and that was when the Rendezvous was formed,” Frank explained.

When Dubois County approached him about putting together a reenactment in Ferdinand Forest, he saw the dedication of the groups involved and agreed to help.

According to Frank, the 250th anniversary has created a unique appetite for events like this across the state. “I’ve been in contact with four different county groups from all over Indiana,” he said. “Dubois is the only one that actually got serious about it and moved it forward.”

With Frank on board, Ferdinand Forest was chosen as the location since it would provide a great hardwood backdrop to what the area would have been like in the late 1700s.  

“It’s going to be a nice site to be able to get a feeling for the era,” Frank said.

The reenactment and the setting are important for Frank. Like Kathy, he once counted himself among those who struggled to connect with history in a classroom setting.

“I was one of those in high school and college that hated history,” he admitted.

It wasn’t until he began doing living history programs as a park ranger at Cumberland Gap in 1984 that something shifted. The research required for those programs revealed what a textbook never could — that history, at its core, is about people.

“When you present it as reenactors, and you present it as real people, history is just stories — and everybody loves a good story,” Frank said. “What we hate is not history. What we hate is the way it was taught to us.”

Visitors to the Revolutionary Rendezvous will find reenactors demonstrating musket-firing techniques and portraying frontier settlers, militia members, and tradespeople, including blacksmiths and tanners. Step into shops and encampments to experience and learn about how people lived during this time.

Expanding on the diversity of participants, Indigenous groups from northern Indiana and Martin County will establish encampments and demonstrate traditional crafts and customs. Dubois County members of the Sons of the American Revolution — including Randy Helderman, Alan Helderman, and Darrell Hensley — will also participate in period dress.

While space constraints prevent mock battles between opposing forces, visitors will witness musket fire, gunpowder smoke, and tactical formations that recreate frontier skirmishes at scheduled times throughout the event.

There will also be activities for children. Period games like Graces, designed to teach poise and elegance, and hoops are among the offerings. “Most events don’t have an area specifically for children. That’s one of our prides,” Frank noted.

Authenticity extends beyond demonstrations. Many reenactors will also camp at the site throughout the weekend, cooking over fires and sleeping in period tents—reflecting the dedication to historical detail that has grown since the 1976 bicentennial celebrations.

“The difference between now and what we were doing in 1976 is astronomical. We are so much more knowledgeable now than we were 50 years ago,” Frank said about the authenticity of what visitors will experience. “Most of the people involved in this are very meticulous about what they wear and how they present.”

Each reenactor specializes in a particular role and persona—many research multiple characters they can portray at different events. For The Revolutionary Rendezvous, Frank will be an undertaker.

While preparing for his role, Frank explained that many people misunderstand what undertakers did in the 1700s. It wasn’t handling burials and funerals. During the Rendezvous, he plans to inform visitors as part of his display, and, like most reenactors, he looks forward to these conversations.

“I encourage people to talk to them and ask questions. There’s no such thing as a dumb question,” he said. “Most of these reenactors are so willing to talk and love sharing their knowledge.”

This passion for conversation is central for Frank, who spent 41 years with the National Park Service. “I love talking with people,” he said. “Being able to share the stories and show them something new or something they didn’t know is fun.”

Such exchanges can open people’s eyes to the colorful, sometimes misunderstood or ignored history of our nation and the reality of those who founded it.

For Tom Fierst, co-coordinator of the event and a member of the Dubois County Historical Society, these experiences emphasize that the Revolutionary Rendezvous is about more than just a weekend of demonstrations—it’s about inspiring curiosity that lingers long after the campfires die down.

“I’m hoping we can generate some interest in history amongst our younger kids,” Tom said. “I think it’ll engender some interest in history by bringing them to this.”

That commitment to education is why the event’s opening day, April 10, will be dedicated to students. Three of the four Dubois County school districts have committed to bringing elementary students studying American history out to Ferdinand Forest for a living field trip — one that no textbook could replicate.

Tom’s own appreciation for history runs deep. First rooted in his father, John Fierst, who served as Dubois County Historian for 30 years and taught at Jasper High School. And bolstered by his great-grandfather, Louis P. Joseph, who maintained an extensive historical library and knew George R. Wilson, author of the definitive 1910 Dubois County history book.

Tom explained, “Dubois County has a fairly rich history a lot of folks don’t know about,” reinforcing the event’s goal of uncovering local stories.

That, ultimately, is what the organizers of The Revolutionary Rendezvous hope to change: to spark curiosity and make history feel alive—not just for a weekend, but for generations to come.  

Tom said the goal is simple: transform textbook dates into experiences that inspire connection, curiosity, and pride—in Dubois County and beyond.

The Revolutionary Rendezvous runs Friday, April 10, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, April 11, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 12, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ferdinand State Forest. Admission is free.