FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 10, 2008

Contact: Mimi La Camera
President, Freedom Trail Foundation
mlacamera@theFreedomTrail.org
617.357.8300 x201

Freedom Trail® Marks 50th Year with British Encampment

Tourism Agencies Uniting to Promote"50 Events to Celebrate 50 Years"
Highlighting Boston's Revolutionary Roots

BOSTON - July 10, 2008 - The British are coming - again! The Freedom Trail Foundation today announced that they will host the first-ever-in-Boston re-enactment of the original British Encampment from the watershed years 1775-1776. On August 15, 16, and 17 the Boston Common will be the stage again where Redcoat troops encamped during the dreadful siege of Boston. The Boston garrison weekend will feature three days of demonstrations and activities of a typical British 18th century camp. The British Encampment is one of the 50 Events to Celebrate 50 Years, a year-long, citywide program to celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of the country's most valued historic treasures - Boston's Freedom Trail. The encampment is free.

"There have been British encampments in plenty of other places in Massachusetts and other New England states, too," said Mimi La Camera president of the Freedom Trail Foundation, "but we've never had one in Boston - where it all started. Those were dreadful times. We're in the business of telling those stories - what it was like for the Redcoats quartered in an increasingly hostile American outpost. We're hoping this can be an annual event in Boston"

Some of the re-enactor regiments participating are His Majesty's: 10th Regiment of Foot; 1st Regiment of Foot Guards; 5th Regiment of Foot; 9th Regiment of Foot; 4th or King's Own Regiment; 21st Foot RNBF; and the 24th Regiment. Demonstrations are scheduled throughout the three-day weekend and many will sleep overnight. The ongoing scheduled program includes: drills and black powder firing demonstrations, mock tents and bed making, shoemaking, a medical tent, cooking, clothing and uniforms; a cricket game, court marshal, stocks, music, and confrontation with colonial militia men. Children can dress in typical colonial dress and experience camp life and have their photo taken.

In addition, suttlers, itinerant dry goods merchants who frequently accompanied British camps, will be on hand with their re-created 18th century inventory of historic cloth, games, clothes, hats, accessories, and household items.

The Encampment begins at 3:00 pm until sundown on Friday August 15 as the re-enactors set up camp on the Common. No planned programming is scheduled for Friday. Planned is scheduled between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm on Saturday and 9:00 am and 2:00 pm on Sunday. Breaking camp begins at 2:00on Sunday.

Freedom Trail Players, 18th century costumed tour guides, will be on hand to provide background information about the times in Boston.

As part of the 50 Events to Celebrate 50 Years, the 16 Freedom Trail sites, the Freedom Trail Foundation and 20 other city entities will present Freedom Trail and American Revolutionary history-related events that mark Boston's role in America's founding. Under the leadership of the Freedom Trail Foundation, tourism partners will help promote the events, which are available at TheFreedomTrail.org. Special hotel packages are available during the anniversary celebration. For a full calendar and additional details, please visit TheFreedomTrail.org.

About the Freedom Trail
The Freedom Trail is made up of 16 distinct, original historic sites related to the establishment of the country. It is a repository of some of the country's most valuable historic and cultural artifacts. The Freedom Trail Foundation is charged to protect, restore, conserve, and raise public awareness of these sites of exceptional cultural and historic significance. Established in 1958, the Freedom Trail is a national icon and draws domestic and international visitors, resulting in more than $800 million in spending annually. The Freedom Trail was designated as a Millennium Trail in 2000 by First Lady Hilary Clinton. It attracts more than three million tourists, residents of Massachusetts and school children each year.