With the sound of a fist hitting a wooden door, another dimension awaits.

"Soldier, I have recruits for you!"

Under total darkness, you can walk back into time, as a porthole opens to the past.

"We portray 1864 here,” said Fort Clinch State Park Ranger Lee Bledsoe, dressed in a Union Civil War uniform.

"That's a washer woman,” he said while holding a candle-lit lantern near the face of a woman who just entered the gates of the brick-lined fort, complete with cannons still pointing towards the Atlantic ocean, just like they were 150 years ago this summer.

Each Friday and Saturday night during the summer, well after the sun sets, Fort Clinch State Park comes alive only by the candlelight in Bledsoe’s lantern.

"Ease up behind them there, and put that hot glass right against the back of his legs, see! You'll get him going!” he said to visitor Michelle Green from Georgia, who now has responsibility of herding the group of 20 visitors.

Ranger Bledsoe will lead groups for an after-hours tour of the dining facility, laundry room, kitchen and medical areas. The only illumination is similar to how Fort Clinch appeared in 1864.

First built in 1847 and occupied by both Confederate and Union forces during the Civil War, the fort also served as a communications outpost during World War II.

"Three pairs of socks, hand knit, grunted to keep your feet toasty warm in June, July, August and September!" Bledsoe said of wool socks while touring a room formerly used to issue solders their uniforms.

"Honestly, was the most personalized experience I had ever had,” said Jessica Taylor, visiting from St. Petersburg.

Jessica and a friend joined Bledsoe and took interest in how amputations were performed on solders. Bledsoe quickly then strapped a peg leg to Jessica and let her hobble around the medical facility.

"It doesn't matter how old you are, I learned things that I would not have thought of in a million years,” Jessica said of the experience.

Throughout the evening, Bledsoe stays right in character.

"So, what do you think of the Jaguars new quarterback choice?” I ask.

"Quarter back? That is change for a dollar, sir,” Lee responded.

“I have a silver dollar if you want to see it?" Without missing a beat, Bledsoe then pulled a silver dollar from his pocket.

"It's not really spooky, but it has some kind of presence,” Green said.

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