A war by Indiana corn growers, who fought a losing battle against a frontline of invading squirrels, is being celebrated 200 years later.

Tourism officials in Hamilton County are making the “Great Squirrel Stampede of 1822” the theme of fun-filled festivities for the bicentennial of what might seem like science fiction.

Sarah Buckner, director of community engagement for Visit Hamilton County, said most of the festivities will occur in September and October.

However, squirrel-based happenings leading up to fall will be sprinkled into what she described as “The Year of the Squirrel in Hamilton County.”

Buckner said many of the happenings are still in the discussion stage but already decided are paintings and other images of squirrels to be displayed on storefront windows and during special events in late spring and summer.

Squirrel-themed games, along with food and beverages named in honor of the bushy tailed tree travelers, are other examples of what’s in the making.

Stories about the Great Squirrel Stampede of 1822, which is covered in history lessons given to local school children, will also be told.

Officials in Fishers, Noblesville, Carmel and Westfield are sharing a $40,000 contribution from Visit Hamilton County to make stampede-related activities happen in their communities.

Representatives from each area recently met to begin sharing ideas on what else should be done to create an all-squirrel experience. “The options are limitless really,” Buckner said.

According to historians, local farmers used muskets to try to keep the army of migrating squirrels out of their fields and turned to clubs, sticks and stones when they ran out of bullets.

The farmers, though, were practically helpless against the hungry mob described as looking similar to a locust invasion ravaging their corn.

It’s believed the stampede resulted from squirrels, driven out of forests in large numbers by development, migrating in search of adequate shelter and food, according to information posted by the Hamilton County East Public Library.

It took about two weeks for squirrels to destroy all the corn in fields they passed through and, marching in a straight line, they could not be driven off course, according to Noblesville lawyer Augustus F. Shirts in a book he wrote largely about pioneer life in the county. The book from 1901 was entitled “A History of the Formation, Settlement and Development of Hamilton County, Indiana.”

In his book, Shirts said, “When they came to White River they entered the water at once and swam across. Hundreds of them were shot. Others were killed with clubs and stones.”

A witness to the squirrel invasion was Calvin Fletcher, an Indianapolis lawyer, banker and civic leader, who gave a written account in his materials used for researching the history of central Indiana.

In a letter to his brother in February 1823, he wrote, “the corn this year was literally destroyed in the prairies, by grey and black squirrel. They eat only the heart or pit of the kernel.”

There are some documented stories about farmers saving their corn, though, and having plenty of meat from the squirrels they shot and gathered up from their fields.

Enormous waves of squirrels, dozens of miles wide and in numbers estimated at 100,000 or more, sometimes hit other parts of the country during the period, according to library research materials.

Buckner said the idea for the celebration stems from the success of past events centered around the mythological White River Monster.

The myth of the White River Monster was born when two men in the 1800s alerted police about what they described as a “long serpent with spots.”

As it turned out, the monster was a dead cow larger and creepier looking because it had collected sticks and brush while drifting down the river.

Buckner said something weird or quirky is a good way to have fun and connect residents, no matter how long they’ve lived here, with visitors to celebrate local heritage.

Owners of restaurants, shops and other businesses are invited to come up with ideas like specials, perhaps, on food and beverage items that go along with the theme.

“Anything related to squirrels we can highlight or showcase on our website. Let us know and we’ll share it with the community,” she said.