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NILES -- Two city organizations celebrated William McKinley on Saturday in honor of the 25th U.S. president's 181st birthday.
The National McKinley Birthplace Memorial Museum hosted a birthday party that saw visitors touring its premises while enjoying cupcakes and refreshments.
James Power was one of those perusing the exhibits.
The Sharon, Pa., resident said he happened to be driving through the city when he saw the celebration underway. He said it was not the first time he stumbled upon a former president's birthday.
"Coincidentally, I was at Gerald Ford's birthplace on his birthday, too. I didn't even know about that either," Power said.
He said he did not know much about McKinley, but said he knew of the president's assassination and that he was replaced by his vice president, Theodore Roosevelt.
"I'm a fan of history," Power said. "Certainly, I think these local areas need to preserve what they've got, especially something as important as a presidential birthplace."
Belinda Weiss, director of the McKinley Birthplace Museum, said the organization was not only celebrating the former president's birthday but also promoting a new exhibit on McKinley's service during the Civil War.
"We usually do something around (McKinley's) birthday, Presidents Day and throughout the year we do different kinds of events too, with new exhibits opening and different talks," Weiss said.
Weiss said Niles is fortunate to have the birthplace museum and memorial library, which she said looks as though it was "plucked right out of Washington, D.C."
Down the street, a similar celebration occurred at the McKinley Birthplace Home.
Guests who attended the second celebration enjoyed self-guided tours as well as decorating small flower pots, which were filled with soil and sowed with the seeds of a red carnation, the state flower.
The grand finale of the celebration at the birthplace home was a special visit from Mike Wilson, who has portrayed President McKinley at the birthday event, as well as several other occasions across the United States for 32 years.
Wilson, a Champion resident, said the inspiration to serve as a McKinley impersonator came from his roots in the city of Marion.
While living in Marion, Wilson said he lived near former President Warren G. Harding's historical sites.
"There was a dentist who would portray Warren G. Harding," Wilson said. "I lived near the Harding home. You'd hear this patriotic music blasting. I thought if he could do that, I could probably do McKinley."
For this year's presentation, Wilson focused on McKinley's family members. Wilson said McKinley was the seventh of nine children.
Wilson's presentation ranged from the family life of McKinley to theories regarding the former president's connection to "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."
"I try to bring history to life," Wilson said.
Wilson's presentation packed the birthplace home.
One of the several residents in attendance was Greg Leopold of Lordstown.
Leopold said he used to live in Canton, which holds the McKinley Presidential Library and Museum as well as the former president's tomb.
He said he enjoyed learning more about McKinley.
"It's always interesting to hear new things about McKinley and what was my hometown," Leopold said.
Rick Weirick, of Howland, said the museum and presentation by Wilson left him with one question -- "Why hadn't we been here before?"
"(Wilson) was an awesome commentator, and I learned a lot of history," Weirick said.