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Historic Blakeley State Park will commemorate Veteran's Day with a day full of special educational activities.

On Saturday, Nov. 11, the park invites the public to explore this area's rich military heritage through discovery of Alabama's largest Civil War battlefield.

The event includes multiple Civil War weapons demonstrations, offering a rare chance to hear what some of the more than 50 pieces of artillery that were involved in the siege of Fort Blakeley sounded like. During the morning, we take two cruises into the waters of the storied Mobile-Tensaw Delta to explore the sites associated with the battle and the larger Campaign for Mobile in 1865.

Gary Joiner, professor of history at LSU-Shreveport and director of the Red River Regional Studies Center, will speak at 11:45 a.m. in the park's event center. Joiner is a nationally known author or co-author of more than 20 books on Civil War and Louisiana history. Several Federal units that fought at Blakeley also fought in the Red River Campaign, which is the focus of his talk. Following the lecture, the park offers a guided tour of its new USCT Heritage Trail, where one of the largest contingents of African American soldiers to fight in any Civil War battle were positioned.

Piggly Wiggly will be on hand with Royal Sausage products at lunch. Veterans receive free individual day use admission to the park. For more information on the full schedule of events or to purchase tickets for cruises, visit the events page at blakeleypark.com.