Decoration Day & Historic Baseball at Living History Farms

Explore the origins and meaning of Memorial Day!
Saturday, May 25 • 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
All activities included with General Admission
Memorial Day began in 1868 as a day called Decoration Day. More than 600,000 soldiers had died during the American Civil War, and their families did not want anyone to forget their sacrifice. On Decoration Day, these families went to the graveyard with flowers and flags to decorate the graves of their soldiers who had died.

Many small towns had parades. Veterans would carry flags and banners, and children walked in these parades carrying flowers. Sometimes, important men like the mayor or governor would give a speech. Bands would play music and people would sing songs about their country.

Today, we honor all fallen soldiers on Memorial Day, not just those who died in the Civil War. Families still go to cemeteries to remember family members who are gone.

You can see what Decoration Day might have looked like over 100 years ago.

Historical Interpreters will act out a Decoration Day ceremony and procession at 1 p.m.
The day will end with a Historic Baseball game played by 1876 rules.