Annual Van Raalte Farm Civil War Muster returns Sept. 16-17

Mitchell Boatman, Holland Sentinel
·2 min read
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HOLLAND — This year's Van Raalte Farm Civil War Muster will focus on the Battle of Gettysburg, which took place 160 years ago in 1863.

The Muster last reenacted the Battle of Gettysburg in 2018. Gettysburg marked the deadliest battle of the war, with as many as 50,000 casualties. It was also a turning point in the war for the Union.

The 14th Annual Van Raalte Farm Civil War Muster will focus on the Battle of Gettysburg on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 16-17, 2023.
The 14th Annual Van Raalte Farm Civil War Muster will focus on the Battle of Gettysburg on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 16-17, 2023.

The Muster will take place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 16 and 17, with an annual education day Friday, Sept. 15. Hundreds of area students attend education day for special presentations by reenactors.

More than 150 reenactors, cavalry, artillery and impressionists of key figures will provide two days of historical reenactments at the farm.

The home of Ben Van Raalte and two barns on-site will be open for tours throughout the weekend. A Civil War-era church service will be held Sunday morning. Camps of reenactors will be open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.

This year’s guest lecturer will be Wayne Motts, president and CEO of the Gettysburg Foundation, a philanthropic education organization that serves as the nonprofit partner of The Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site.

A photo from the 13th Annual Van Raalte Farm Civil War Muster on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, at Van Raalte Farm Park in Holland.
A photo from the 13th Annual Van Raalte Farm Civil War Muster on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, at Van Raalte Farm Park in Holland.

Motts will give a speech titled “Wolverines at Gettysburg: Michigan Soldiers at the Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3, 1863” at Hope College on Friday, and one titled “One Day at Gettysburg: Abraham Lincoln and his Famous Gettysburg Address” at the Muster.

Actor Fritz Klein, who has portrayed President Abraham Lincoln in a variety of projects including previous Musters, will once again come to Holland to represent Lincoln.

All events during the Muster are free. Food and drinks will be available at the Grey Barn Saloon.

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In addition, a special event to dedicate a plaque to local Civil War soldiers will be held Sept. 17. The plaque will honor soldiers of the 25th Michigan Infantry, Company I, who fought from 1862-1865. More than 400 men from Holland, including Benjamin and Dirk B. K. Van Raalte, sons of Holland founder Albertus Van Raalte, fought in the company.

The dedication will take place at 10 a.m.

For more information, visit vanraaltefarmcivilwarmuster.com.

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Annual Van Raalte Farm Civil War Muster returns Sept. 16-17