Civil War Will Be Re-enacted on Urbandale Library Lawn

Whether you're a history buff, like theater, or love things that go BOOM, the got you covered with its special Civil War program that begins this week.

The library's program on the Civil War begins this Thursday evening with a 6 p.m. program, in which the audience can ask questions of a soldier returning from the Civl War. The Union solider is played by O.J. Fargo, who remains in character as he answers the questions.

Fargo is president of a Creston, Iowa regiment of Civil War Re-enactors, who will be setting up camp in the Charles Gabus Memorial Tree Park right next to the library on Saturday, May 19.

There will musket firing demonstrations, cannon firing demonstrations, opportunities for photographs with the Civil War soliders, a kids military drill, and dancing. (We're not quite sure what the dancing is all about, but  if you want to know, go find out at 2 p.m. Saturday.)

"I think what the kids will really enjoy is probably the musket-firing and cannon drills," said Janine Bauer, who is public relations and adult program coordinator. You can find the schedule here.

"We're targeting everybody, even people who are not history buffs," said Bauer. "I think we'll get a good crowd."

Bauer said Library Director Julie Wells originally suggested that the Civil War topic because the State Historical Museum had a traveling exhibit: "The Fiery Trial: Iowa and the Civil War." The exhibit is in a 32-foot trailer that will be parked in the library parking lot the weekend of May 19 and May 20. 

"Our hope is that we'll have some major kind of historical celebration each year," said Bauer.