In just a couple of weeks, the city of Mexico will transform into a time machine taking folks back to when their ancestors roamed the area.

The biannual Walk Back in Time history festival will be Friday through Sunday, Sept. 22-24, at the Audrain County Historical Society grounds at 501 S. Muldrow. This year’s theme is the Old West with Rick and Bev Hamby’s “StageCoach Journey” headlining the event with their restored 1880s stagecoach buggy that was once used for carrying mail. 

One of the event's organizers, Lori Pratt, said in recent years the festival has tried to take a different approach since going to an every-other-year event. Instead of doing several small things, the event is more focused on doing fewer things but in a more expansive way.

“We can’t change history but we can change the way we present it,” Pratt said.

Pratt said the grounds will be set up in a chronological order of history starting in the colonial times of America up to current history. The show centers around historians camping (living) the way they would during those times so event goers can get the visual. The historians also delight event goers with tales, stories, and facts about the historical period. Pratt said event goers get to learn about history in a way they’re maybe not used to. She said it’s a lot more than words on a paper.

“When you come here it changes the way you think about history,” Pratt said. “You see George Washington standing there telling his story. You see Babe Ruth, Tom Bass, and the colonists. Even people who are not really into history will come and say, ‘Wow it really changed the way I think about it.’”

Some of the subjects to be presented will include the 1933 Soviet genocide of Ukraine, a presentation on the Manhattan Project, The World Trade Center: A Survivor’s Story, Harry Truman: The Great Whistle Stop Campaign, General Ulysses Grant, and much more.

Pratt said there will be interesting discussions about traditions and the stories behind some common things we do or practice today. One presentation she is particularly looking forward to is “Women’s Dress in the 1860s.” Presenter Diane Wortman will bring a live model to demonstrate the different layers women wear. Some event goers will get to hear what it was like to be a surgeon on the battlefield during the Civil War.

“You have parts of history that maybe you’ve never thought about,” Pratt said.

For those who love music, there will be plenty to offer. Saturday on the main stage pop culture music from the 1960s and 70s will be featured. Each night from 7 to 9 p.m. event goers can visit the camps and listen to folk music from the period the camp is representing. 

“You can stay in one spot or travel around,” Pratt said.

The event is completely free and will begin on Friday with a kids’ day that will feature fifth graders from schools in the area followed by a fish fry Friday night for $12. A schedule of events will go on all day Saturday and Sunday. Pratt said this is a chance to see history from a new angle.

“You can see a picture but it’s so much different,” Pratt said.