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| - By far one of the more memorable historical stops I have made in quite sometime.
The James K. Polk State historic site is just southeast of Charlotte in Pineville, North Carolina - which is a stone throw from the South Carolina border.
We stopped in on a whim as we had time before another activity. From the get go, this was an amazing facility. Nestled just off of Lancaster Hwy, the museum and homestead are outside of the view of passers by. Conversely, once inside the park you wouldn't even know you're surrounded by a dense suburban area.
Parking was ample, so we got a front row spot. We header into the museum and were immediately greeted by some of the most enthusiastic staff you'll find anywhere. They told us about the museum, the video, the living history exhibit that included a live musket firing, cooking demonstration, and an assortment of period characters.
We hurried out to see the period homestead and were met by even more enthusiastic reenactors who gave us the history and background of mid 18th century living, the Mexican-American War, and the Polk family / Presidency. We even got a big refresher of the Texas Revolution.
After meeting with the various folks demonstrating at the museum we watched a very nice documentary about the 11th President's time in office, the war with Mexico, negotiations with Britain over the Oregon territory, and the expansion of American territory all the way to California.
For a State Historical Site, there are few if any comparable examples of facilities that are as well run and maintained. We thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of our visit. And....it was FREE - though donations are appreciated and deserved.
The site has several events throughout the year which are listed on their website and in social media. But, their biggest event is the November 5th James K. Polk birthday celebration (bash), which includes lots of period activities, reenactors, food, and more.
This site is a must see for history lovers and more.
Kudos
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