Portraying hundreds of years of American history within a compact, practical walking space, the popular "Walk Back In Time" returns to Mexico, conducted today through Sunday on the grounds of the Audrain County Historical Society's museum complex.

"It brings history alive," summarized Paul Baum of the event. Baum is historical coordinator for "Walk Back In Time," keying its development when he originally presented the idea to ACHS in 2001.

Featuring a milieu of historical camps in a reverse timeline, this year's event includes the following displays: 1940s World War II, 1917 World War I, 1898 Spanish American War, 1880s cowboys, Native American village, 1860s Civil War, 1830s mountain men, and 1770s colonial. Meantime, on Sunday only, 1950s-era Korean War vehicles and a 2008 modern military display will be showcased.

"Our event is a multi-period event, and we line it up in that chronology, covering hundreds of years of American history in one area," stated Baum.

Each camp features re-enactors, conveying unique facets related to a particular historical time element. "It really is something to see," stated Dana Keller, executive director of the historical society. Referencing the "Cooperative Education Day," conducted today for area school students, Keller said: "The kids walk through and really let it unravel, getting that perspective, of the way it actually took place. Because you don't really get that from a classroom and textbook. There is a difference between looking at a picture of George Washington, and walking up to him, shaking his hand, and asking him questions."

Washington – hero of the Revolutionary War, and America's first president – is one of three notable American generals represented at the event, joining Douglas MacArthur (World War II and the Korea conflict) and John "Black Jack" Pershing (World War I). Each will be present at Saturday's 10 a.m. opening ceremony, when the U.S. and Missouri flags are raised. In addition, the ceremony will feature re-introduction of the Audrain County flag, which Baum said was originally introduced in the mid-1800s, but over time, had fallen from use. David Maupin, a 1961 graduate of Mexico High School, and participating re-enactor in the event (as George Washington) commissioned a re-make of the flag for reintroduction. The opening ceremony will then conclude with the National Anthem, sung by Shelby Hobbs.

Another notable – and expanded – feature of this year's "Walk Back In Time" event regards the Native American village, stated Baum. "This covers Paleo-Indians to the 20th century," he said, noting that the simulation is approximately "quadruple the size" of previous Indian camp portrayals, and will follow the 1880s cowboys simulation in the timeline. "Even as small as it has been in the past, it has attracted a lot of attention," said the organizer. "A lot of people are interested in that sort of thing. But it wasn't really a portrayal of village life before, and this is going to be a portrayal, or simulation, the best that we can do, of village life. So we'll have a campfire there, and cooking, their attire, and music."

Also expanded this year is the 1860s-era "Vintage Baseball Tournament," featuring Mexico's Graceland Ghosts, the St. Louis Perfectos, New Baden Juniors, and the St. Louis Unions. The tourney will be played Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. According to the Vintage Base Ball Association Web site at wiki.vbba.org (the word baseball was originally two separate words), the game differed considerably from today's version. Ballists (an 1860s term that referred to a ballplayer) played with bare hands, while fair or foul balls caught on one bounce were considered outs. Another key difference was the 45-foot distance from the pitcher's mound to home plate, with pitchers throwing underhanded. The pitching mound in the modern game is 60-feet 6-inches from home plate, with overhanded pitching. Meantime, the ball used in the 1860s was slightly larger, heavier and softer than a modern hardball, and made with a rubber core surrounded with woolen yarn and a one-piece leather cover (today's ball uses a two-piece leather cover).

An interesting side note to the guidelines cited by the Vintage Base Ball Association is its "Gentleman Rules" subsection, which states: "No spitting, cussing, chewing or arguing. Any such conduct will be handled by the arbitrator by the fining of the player. This fine will be 25-cents (one week's average wage in 1860) and must be paid to the tally keeper by the end of the inning. In the event that the incident has offended a crank (aka, 'fan'), an apology must be made to the crank."

Similarly, like the game of baseball (or base ball) itself, the "Walk Back In Time" event continues to evolve. "It's bigger every year," stated Keller. "We are out of space – the grounds are filled, but it will never be a repeat from the year before. It's a constant effort to change, and there is always something new." She added that "something that we're going to work on next year is an emphasis of trying to get the whole community to embrace whatever their personal history is. Like if they are a business, whatever they sell, and wherever one of them works, to try and get the downtown to do historical presentations in their windows. Something like that."

Meantime, organizers of the event, and residents throughout the community, can savor the festival's continued success. "We'll have every bit of 12,000 (people)," stated Keller. "So even as things stand right now, we have people coming into town, stopping and buying gas, eating off site, people that are shopping downtown. We got some calls last year from some merchants that had some really nice sales, from people that were here  attending 'Walk Back In Time.'"

"There's a lot of camaraderie among everyone, and I know the re-enactors are just passionate about it," stated Baum.

"David Maupin ... said that he's visited things like this all over the country, and said this event beats those by 90 miles," concluded Keller. "That was his quote when we was here and spoke to Rotary. He said this event just beats those by 90 miles. Having something concrete, having it all laid out in an organized manner, and just the execution of the whole thing, which Paul works on all year, just makes it a superior event."

For additional details about the event, including pricing, information about tonight's fish and chicken fry, Saturday's candlelight tours, attic treasures and basket auction, Saturday's "The Magnificent Ben Franklin" presentation, and various musical performances, visit www.audrain.org/history_town.html.

The museum is located at 501 S. Muldrow in Mexico.