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Soup at Six Lecture Series--The McKinley Years
The Wm. McKinley Presidential Library & Museum will present The McKinley Years on January 22, 2009. The program is part of the Museum's Soup at Six series.
Celebrate William McKinley's 166th birthday with a look at The McKinley Years. Join Director of Education Christopher Kenney for a photographic journey into the life of our nation's 25th President. This biographical look at McKinley will chronicle his service during the Civil War, his rise to political prominence, his time in office and his tragic death. Chris will explore the wide variety of campaign memorabilia used in the Front Porch Campaign. This program will also examine McKinley's legacy, including his role in creating the Panama Canal and establishing the United States as a world power. The lecture also includes rare film clips.
The program begins at 6:00 PM and is $10 and includes a signature soup, beverage and fresh homemade bread baked on the open hearth.
Pre-paid reservations are required. Please call 330-455-7043.
McKinley's Masonic Heritage Honored in the Keller Gallery
As a part of their bicentennial celebration, the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Ohio has created a traveling exhibit depicting the history of Freemasonry and the Masonic fraternity in Ohio from 1808 to 2008, which will open on McKinley Day (January 31) in the Keller Gallery.
Materials relating to McKinley, Garfield, Taft, and Harding, the four Ohio presidents who were Freemasons, will be included in the exhibit, in addition to artifacts from the organization's general history.
William McKinley became a Mason while serving in the Civil War in May 1865. After moving to Canton, McKinley affiliated with Canton Lodge No. 60 in August 1867. Two years later he became a Charter Member of Eagle Lodge No. 43, which was renamed William McKinley Lodge after his assassination.
Masonry is the world's oldest and largest fraternity. Its origins are unknown, because records have been lost over time. Most scholars trace its roots back to trade guilds in medieval Europe. There are currently 520 Masonic Lodges in Ohio with a combined total membership of 112,000.
The exhibit will be on view through June 7, 2009.
Join us for McKinley Day 2009!
Saturday January 31, 20099:00 to 4:00
Wreath Laying Ceremony at 3:00
Members free, special admission price $5 per personEach year the Wm. McKinley Presidential Library & Museum proudly celebrates the anniversary of the President's birth on the last Saturday of January, a tradition that has been observed for over a century.
All of your favorite McKinley Day activities will be back again this year, including an open hearth cooking demonstration (with samples!), Civil War re-enactors, special shows in Discover World, and "Meet the President" talks. Our Museum Café will again serve lunch. 
A new exhibition, The Masons in Ohio, will open in the Keller Gallery on McKinley Day, paying tribute to McKinley's membership in the organization. And in the schoolhouse, view The McKinley Museum and the Orb of Power, a 30 minute film produced by our Lights! Camera! Action! Summer Camp.
There are lots of new things to see in Discover World! Learn more about how tornadoes are formed through our new tornado exhibit. The Toddler Area has a brand new space across the hall from its previous location, which now houses the electric show and other science demonstrations.
A highlight of the festivities is always the moving Wreath Laying Ceremony, where local veterans and a General representing the White House lay wreaths in memory of the President. As the strains of "Taps" echo in the cold winter air, it is a time to remember the life of Canton's favorite son, William McKinley.
With all of these activities, you don't want to miss this fun-filled day for the whole family!