The Republic of West Florida Volunteers
Are a living history group in South Louisiana and Mississippi. We participate in “buckskinning” events depicting pre-1840 time periods, including the fur-trade era, colonial, French and Indian War and French and Spanish Colonial eras. We are named for the West Florida Republic, established in September, 1810 and lasting for 74 days until invaded and occupied by the United States in December, 1810. We participate with the Louisiana State Historic Sites as well as sites in Mississippi and Alabama doing demonstrations open to the public depicting life in a particular time period for the site. We also participate in events closed to the public at which competitions are held in shooting, archery, knife and hawk, and fire starting (with flint and steel) and trap setting. These are all camping events from three to ten days at which no items are allowed to be visible that would not have been seen in a pre-1840's camp.