Living History Fair This Weekend

History will come to life this weekend at the History Center of Olmsted County.

The first annual Living History Fair will take place Saturday and Sunday (July 25 and 26) on the grounds of the history center in southwest Rochester. The two-day event will have many interactive Living History Demonstrations of life in the 19th century and will feature Civil War Re-enactor Encampments and two Civil War Battle re-enactments.

The displays will include a working telegraph office near the army camps and professional Civil War instructor Arn Kind will be on hand both days. He'll be speaking about the Civil War and offering lessons on how to march and drill like Civil War soldiers.

President Lincoln will be in attendance and there might even be a debate between the nation's 16th President and his Democratic challenger in the 1860 election, Stephen Douglas.

The history grounds will also be filled with numerous demonstrations of activities that were commonplace in the 1800's, while the history center will have an exhibit of military gear from the era and other historical artifacts.