Inland Region: Living History & Medieval Reenactment in the Inland Northwest
Welcome to Inland Region, an independent educational resource for the world of medieval and Renaissance living history as it is practiced across the Inland Northwest — the wide country of eastern Washington, northern Idaho, and the neighboring reaches of Oregon and western Montana. For decades, hobbyists in and around Spokane and the Inland Empire have gathered to research, recreate, and share the arts, skills, and courtesy of the Middle Ages. This site collects the evergreen reference material that grew out of that community so that newcomers and curious readers can learn from it freely.
Historical reenactment is history you can hold in your hands. Instead of only reading about the medieval world, participants sew the clothing, forge the armor, cook the feasts, letter the scrolls, and practice the fencing and heavy combat of an age long past. Along the way they build friendships, teach one another, and keep alive crafts that would otherwise fade. This resource focuses on the knowledge side of that pursuit — the glossaries, primers, and how-to guides that answer the questions a beginner actually asks.
What You Will Find Here
Our reference library is organized around the subjects that reenactors study most:
- Parts of a Castle — a full glossary of medieval castle architecture, from arrow loop to turning bridge.
- Forms of Address — how royalty, nobility, and honored guests were properly addressed.
- Introduction to Heraldry — coats of arms, tinctures, and the language of blazon.
- The Qualities of Honor — the chivalric ideals that shaped knightly conduct.
- Arts & Sciences — researching and recreating the crafts of the Middle Ages.
A Community Rooted in the Inland Northwest
The living-history community here is a patchwork of local groups meeting in Spokane, the Tri-Cities, Coeur d'Alene, Moscow and Pullman on the Palouse, Sandpoint, Yakima, and the smaller towns between. Members gather for weekly fighter practices, arts-and-sciences nights, and the great seasonal gatherings that fill a summer weekend with tournaments and feasting. You can read more about the region on our community overview and the shape of the reenactment year on our gatherings and events page.
Medieval recreation in North America grew up around the Society for Creative Anachronism, an international non-profit educational organization founded in 1966. This website is an independent enthusiast resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an official publication of the SCA or any of its branches; organization names appear here for context and reference only.
Who This Resource Is For
The pages here are read by a surprisingly broad audience. Students arrive researching medieval fortifications for a class project; writers and game designers come to get the vocabulary of castles and courts right; teachers borrow the glossaries; and, of course, reenactors old and new use them exactly as they were first intended — as clear, friendly primers on the subjects the hobby holds dear. Because this material is, at heart, general medieval history and craft knowledge, it belongs to everyone, and we are glad to share it. Nothing here is behind a login, and nothing is for sale.
Start Where You Are Curious
Whether you found us searching for the name of the notch in a castle wall, wondering how to address a duchess, or thinking about attending your very first event, there is a doorway here for you. New to the hobby entirely? Begin with our newcomer's guide. Curious about the ideals that hold this gentle, courteous world together? Read the qualities of honor. Otherwise, dive straight into the library and follow your interest — every page links onward to the next, so it is easy to wander.