Travel back 224 years to Oct. 10, 1774. The scene, a long bloody battle between the Virginia militiamen and the Shawnee Indians. Many residents of Point Plea-sant travel back to this era ev-ery year. The Point Pleasant Battle Days festival was Oct. 2-4. The nationally known festival commemorates the first battle of the American Revolution. Many visitors came from all over the United States to participate in the cultural activities. Friday, Oct. 2, there was an art show, a craft demonstration and encampments in the Battle Monument State Park. One of Friday's highlights included the Lantern Tour. The tour guides, dressed in colonial costumes, carried old wooden lanterns and offered a first person narrative of all the significant events of the battle as they walked through the park. Even though Saturday prov-ed to be a dark and rainy day, that did not stop people from participating in the festivities. The day started with the crowning of the 1998 Heritage Queen, Garnett A. Fisher, of Point Pleasant. Many area bands, fife and drum corps, beauty queens and businesses participated in the annual "First in Freedom" parade. Hungry parade goers also decided to try the annual Ox roast and bean dinner all day. There was musical entertainment provided in the park by the Kanawha Valley Pipes and Drums and the Andrew Lewis Volunteer Drum and Fife. Several companies reenacted the life of our ancestors as they camped on the battle site. Aimee M. Stover, Marshall University senior of Point Pleasant, said she enjoyed speaking to the people who reenacted colonial life. "Watching them make clothes and candles made me appreciate modern technology," Stover said. Two guest speakers, James Alexander Thom, and his wife, Dark Rain, were present for a "meet the author" event. Thom has written many books but he is best known for his book, "Follow the River." This book portrays the life of Mary Draper Ingles and her struggle to return to her home land after being captured by the Indians. Thom said he wanted to commemorate the spirit of those who lost their lives in the Battle of Point Pleasant. He said he always points out that the past is not always in the past. "All we have are things we have through the suffering of our forefathers." Thom said. Dark Rain, a Shawnee Indian, said she was not in Point Pleasant "to celebrate but to commemorate the brave warriors, both blue and brown eyed." Then Dark Rain presented Alice Sauer of the Col. Charles Lewis Chapter NSDAR with fresh water pearls to represent friendship and healing. Many people also decided to travel six miles north to the West Virginia State Farm Museum Fall Festival. The schedule of events in-cluded a steam and gas engine show, a quilt show and an apple butter and cider making de-monstration. Also scheduled was the seventh annual kiddy tractor pull and draft horse pull. A Battle Days Soccer Tour-nament was one way the youth of the community were involved in the festivities. Saturday's activities concluded with a Colonial Ball. A memorial service in honor of those who gave their lives during the battle concluded the Battle Days Festival. Sons of the American Rev-olution President General, Russell D. Page, spoke during the service about the history and legacy of the founding fath-ers. Point Pleasant is considered a landmark in history. On Oct.10, 1774, Col. Andrew Lewis' Virginia militiamen defeated the Indians lead by Shawnee Chieftain Cornstalk. This became known as the first battle of the American Revolu-tion. According to copies of reports of the Point Pleasant Battle Monument commission to the West Virginia State Board of Control, on Oct. 9, 1901, the battle site was named Tu-Endie-Wei Park. This is a Native American name meaning mingling of the waters. Oct. 9, 1909, at the same grounds an 84-foot granite obe-lisk monument was erected in honor of the Virginia militiamen who gave their lives during the battle, according to copies of reports and Acts of the Congress of the United States and the West Virginia Legis-lature. There are also smaller memorials in the park dedicated to Cornstalk and Anne Bailey. According to copies of reports of the Point Pleasant Battle Monument Commission to the West Virginia State Board of Control, the oldest hewn log house in the Kanawha Valley stands on its original site in the park. The Mansion House was erected in 1796 as a tavern by Walter Newman. The house is now a museum featuring an-tiques, heirlooms and authentic furniture more than 150-years-old.