Yermo, CA – The State of California was in its infancy when the Battle of Ft. Sumter, near Charleston, SC took place in 1861 starting the American Civil War. While patriotic fervor swept California residents after this battle, Volunteer Regiments, recruited from pro-Union counties from the northern part of the state were sent to occupy pro-secessionist Southern California leaving Southern Californians powerless during the war. Although 17,000 men from California participated in the War Between the States, California’s contribution to the effort was of small scale.
One hundred and fifty years later, the Civil War is being played out in the hills of Calico Ghost Town over President’s Day Weekend, February 19-21st. Two armies, hundreds of soldiers will demonstrate the battles, hardships and life in a divided nation.
The American Civil War Society, the largest Civil War re-enacting association in Southern California, will bring to life the troop drills, inspections, infantry, artillery and cavalry brigades, as well as the fashions, and soldier encampments depicting the life and times of this historic period.
Calico Ghost Town is located off I-15 at the Ghost Town Road exit, ten miles north of Barstow.