Living History & Reenacting
at the Old Barracks

Welcome

Living history is at the heart of the mission of the Old Barracks Museum (OBM). We are one of the only New Jersey museums to offer daily living history experiences focused on the eighteenth century and we are well known for our annual Battle of Trenton reenactment and smaller events throughout the year.

To help celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, we are expanding our existing living history programs and planning new ones. This page is dedicated to sharing information for all of our living history events, including details regarding our event application process, accuracy guidelines, and event logistics. Please check back regularly for updates.

For all inquiries regarding our living history programming please contact Mark A. Turdo, Assistant Director of Interpretation & Curation, at mturdo@barracks.org or use the attached form.

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Living History and Reenacting at the Old Barracks

The Old Barracks Museum welcomes all individuals and units who want to improve their impression, living history skills, and interpretive abilities. Participation in OBM living history programming is by OBM invitation only. While all of our living history events are geared toward a public audience, private training events are possible.

Accuracy Guidelines

We strive to continually improve the accuracy of OBM events. We expect all participants to adhere to or actively work toward our accuracy guidelines. While modern circumstances require that we accept certain historical inaccuracies and anachronisms during events (for example, the modern Battle of Trenton reenactment includes regiments who were not here historically because not every unit at the original battles has been recreated), we still strive to make every detail within our control as accurate as possible. These details are a window into the lives of the people we are interpreting, allowing us the ability to touch on everything from button holes to battalion formations. We do this to honor the historic people we represent, to educate ourselves, and to offer visitors a richer historical experience.

The OBM, along with other Ten Crucial Days sites, has adopted the “Clothing Guidelines for Reenactors” (including restrictions and prohibitions) established by the Washington Crossing (PA) Historic Park. These guidelines cover those portraying the Continental Army, associated militia units, and civilian/followers for our annual Battle of Trenton reenactment.

You can find the guide here at: washingtoncrossingpark.org

Hessian and British regiments should also strive to represent the most accurate depiction of their unit as possible. This includes attention to details of construction, fit, and use (for example, all visible stitches should be done by hand).

The OBM has a few additions to these Guidelines:

As a preservation organization dedicated to ensuring the survival of original objects, we strongly discourage the use of original objects during living history programs.
Sunglasses (in period-correct frames) are only permitted if medically required. Otherwise, sunglasses (period or modern) are prohibited.
If it is cold, modern layers for warmth are acceptable provided they are not visible.
Hessian participants are allowed period correct facial hair (mustaches).

Anyone not adhering to these guidelines, will be asked to change or leave. For example, anyone arriving with inaccurate facial hair will be asked to shave (we will happily provide a disposable razor and shaving cream) or will not be permitted to participate and asked to leave the event.

Black Powder And Fire Safety Guidelines

All living history interpreters and reenactors will follow the “Black Powder Firearms Safety Guidelines” adopted by the Continental Line. This document can be found at

The document can be found here at: continentalline.org

The OBM has a few additions to the Continental Line’s Safety Guide:

Always treat a gun as if it is loaded.
Always keep the gun pointed in the safest possible direction.
Keep your finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard until you are ready to fire.
Under no circumstances is there to be any loading of weapons or cartridges from loose or bulk powder on OBM property or during OBM events.
Live cartridges (those with black powder and a musket ball or other projectile) are prohibited.
- Musket balls may be carried separately in order to be shown to the public.
- Dummy cartridges containing a non-explosive black powder substitute and a period-correct musket ball are permissible.
Wadding and ramming is prohibited, including during public firing demonstrations.
Ramrods should only be withdrawn during supervised safety inspections.
Safety inspections will occur throughout each day muskets are present. Anyone whose musket is not inspected before a demo/battle will not be allowed to participate.
- During living history events, inspections will occur before each demo and immediately after each demo.
- During the annual reenactment, inspections will occur four times during the day – once before each battle and once upon each battle’s conclusion.
OBM staff will be present for all safety inspections.