Cathleen Allison/Nevada Appeal Wally Earhart who portrays Abe Lincoln, jokes with Mikaila Wilde, 4, of Minden on Monday at the Children's Museum of Northern Nevada. Earhart told tales of that brought President's Day to life.
Looking up at the tall man who stepped out of history in his 19th Century black suit Monday, Josh Slack wondered how President Lincoln fed his dog.
His grandmother said she might get Slack a dog soon, too, just like the ones Abe told him about named Tiger and Fido.
"I think about his dogs," Slack, 9, said. "I wanted to ask him, 'Did you feed your dog?'"
The president in a tall black hat visited the children, off from school to recognize President's Day, to tell them about his life. Abe, usually known as Carson resident Wally Earhart, shared stories about his family, reading and riding horses in Washington D.C.
Children gathered around him to hear the tales that brought Presidents Day to life for many of them. They heard about the way Lincoln learned to read from his sister in their family's log cabin using their only book, a Bible. They also learned how he liked to ride horses and about his life chopping trees and the fact that he only spent one year in elementary school.
"He looks real," Slack said. "If he was really here, I would ask him, how did you get in to be President?"
Elaine Jones, 8, of Carson, was learning about Lincoln in school and wanted to see him in person.
"It was pretty cool," Jones said.
Lincoln lookalike Earhart said he used to make about 200 appearances during the year as Abe, but has cut back recently. His interest in Lincoln is more about his family connection to the historic figure than his remarkable resemblance.
Earhart is a fourth cousin to Amelia Earhart, the famous pilot whose fate is still a mystery. Amelia Earhart spent time in Reno and the area, visiting friends and family. Her family invested a fortune in Nevada mines, where she and her sister and mother worked.
As a child, Wally Earhart read through scrapbooks of his famous cousin's that made mention several times of President Lincoln. He later found the Earharts were distantly related to the Lincoln family through marriage.
Growing up in Lincoln, Ohio, Wally Earhart graduated from Lincoln High School and grew up on "Lincolnisms."
His favorite Lincoln saying is: "Always do right," he said.
Museum Executive Director Ken Beaton said Lincoln's visit provided a real education for the day.
"I think this can be much more meaningful," Beaton said. "It brings it much more alive."
Contact Jill Lufrano at jlufrano@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.
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