Custer Lives!
Elizabethtown Costumed Downtown Walking Tour
I was researching General George Armstrong Custer's post-Civil War duty in Kentucky and found a link to an actor portraying the General as part of a costumed tour in Elizabethtown. My initial thoughts were that it would be of poor quality with some local buffoons parading around. I checked out the production a little more and decided I would travel to Elizabethtown to see for myself. Boy am I glad I did! I fell in love with the people and history of Elizabethtown.
The event's official name is "The Charles W. Logsdon Historic Downtown Walking Tour". Over twenty years ago Sheriff Charles W. Logsdon wrote the original script which has been updated through the years. 2010 will be the events twenty-third season. The presentation is held every Thursday evening June through September at 7:00 PM. The tour begins on the Public Square. No admission is charged and no reservations are required.
I am one of those "if you are not five minutes early...then you are late types" so I got to the Public Square about 6:45 PM. I was the only person there except for some members of the New Hope Community Church who were passing out free bottles of water. The crowd began to grow in a rapid fashion. Just prior to the tour beginning, promptly at 7:00 PM, I counted over one hundred twenty people there for it. The ages ranged from the seventies to less than ten. The young actor portraying Samuel Haycraft, Jr. was the tour guide and gave an explanation of what to expect. His presentation was very professional and well rehearsed. After wrapping up here, we began to walk the tour.
We went to about a dozen stations and each character gave a fine performance and history lesson. The actors interact with the crowd and answer questions at the end of their performance. It was very entertaining and even the smaller children were enjoying themselves. The walking was done at a pace that allowed everyone to keep up. The costumes were all of high quality and period correct. The characters range from the earliest days of Elizabethtown to the twentieth century. Each character is at, or near, a historic location pertaining to them. The tour took just over an hour to complete. I had been out sightseeing and taking photographs all day prior to attending. Unfortunately my camera battery was nearly dead and I was only to get a few photos which was disappointing. I'll get the rest on my next visit in a year or two.
Some of the nationally known characters are General George Armstrong Custer, P. T. Barnum, Carry Nation, and President Abraham Lincoln's stepmother Sarah Bush Johnston Lincoln.
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General George Armstrong Custer |
Sarah Bush Johnston Lincoln |
P. T. Barnum |
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I unfortunately can't remember this man's name. |
Jenny Lind |
Samuel Haycraft Jr and a couple of Confederates. |
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