Living History Reenactors
of the Period 1750-1840 on the
American Frontier
 |
The Corps of Rediscovery is a group of living-history enthusiasts who depict the period of 1750-1840 on the American Frontier, specializing in Lewis & Clark's Corps of Discovery and the mountain men of the American Fur Trade.
Led by Chuck "Strummer" Preble and Larry "Friar" Edwards, the group makes living-history presentations at schools, museums and historical encampments.
Photo, right: Corps of Rediscovery performing at the Manzanita Rendezvous, (foreground L-R) Strummer, Friar and Broken Hand, with Mike joining us on the gut bucket.
 |
| Trailblazers: Mountain Men in California. |
We elucidate the largely ignored but primary role of the mountain men in settling California and other western states. This includes setting up a trapper's camp, displaying historical artifacts, and telling the true tales of Jedediah Smith, Kit Carson, Jim Beckwourth, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, James O. Pattie, Ewing Young, Louis Robidoux, Peg Leg Smith and other mountain men who blazed the trails across America's western frontier.
|
| Friar and Broken Hand performing at the Blacksmith Shop in Old Town San Diego. |
As Heritage, Friar and Strummer perform authentic old-time music on fiddle, guitar, banjo and mandolin, accompanied by Mike "Hatman" Robinson, who plays spoons and other percussion implements. Carl "Broken Hand" Costantino on guitar and Robert "Weezer" Rez on mandolin often join them as well.
Hatman is a master hat maker and seamster, offering his wares for sale, and Naomi "Bead Woman" Lewis (you guessed it) creates works of art with her bead work, also for sale.
The Corps of Rediscovery appears regularly at the Blacksmith Shop in Old Town San Diego, making historical presentations and performing music of the era.
Books:
Strummer and Friar each have written books relevant to the period:
- The Rendezvous Primer by Chuck "Strummer" Preble
- Food & Provisions of the Mountain Man by Larry "Friar" Edwards
The books are available online at Downwind Press: Books for the Buckskinner
|
 Corps of Rediscovery |
Copyright © , Larry M Edwards