I was engaged with the hobby during the late 90’s. This included participation in the huge 1998 Gettysburg reenactment that, as a collective experience, embodied all that was both good and bad with the hobby. On a personal level, I had little interaction with “hardcore” types whose preparation for events took on aspects of method acting. Most of the men and women that I encountered were white collar folks with disposable income and a deep interest in history. That many of them—blue and gray—held onto a perspective that was heavily influenced by the Lost Cause, is another discussion. Interestingly, what would drive many of them from the hobby was the increased commercialization of large-scale events, which drove up costs for participants. The fact that few children of reenactors followed their parents into the hobby, in addition to the fact that many younger folks in the 2000’s had neither the time or the disposable income of their parents, was a big factor driving down involvement. It is a very expensive hobby.
You did an online interview with members of the 54th Massachusetts reenactors. Are they still in existence?
Yes, they are very active.
https://www.54thmass.org/our-organization/
I was engaged with the hobby during the late 90’s. This included participation in the huge 1998 Gettysburg reenactment that, as a collective experience, embodied all that was both good and bad with the hobby. On a personal level, I had little interaction with “hardcore” types whose preparation for events took on aspects of method acting. Most of the men and women that I encountered were white collar folks with disposable income and a deep interest in history. That many of them—blue and gray—held onto a perspective that was heavily influenced by the Lost Cause, is another discussion. Interestingly, what would drive many of them from the hobby was the increased commercialization of large-scale events, which drove up costs for participants. The fact that few children of reenactors followed their parents into the hobby, in addition to the fact that many younger folks in the 2000’s had neither the time or the disposable income of their parents, was a big factor driving down involvement. It is a very expensive hobby.
Chris,
Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience in the hobby. You make a good point re: cost and commercialization.