BUFFALO, N.Y. — Fans of the 16th president of the United States will gather at the Buffalo History Museum on Sunday to celebrate what would have been his 215th birthday.
For 150 years now, the museum has hosted the longest-running celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birthday.
Sunday's festivities are free and run from 10:30 a.m.-noon, with a program by the Buffalo Presidential Center, a reading of the Gettysburg Address by Lincoln reenactor, and of course, birthday cake.
"The reason to celebrate this weekend is that Lincoln's number one fan we like to say, lived in Buffalo. Julius Francis was a Buffalo pharmacist," Museum Director of Communications and Community Engagement Brian Hayden said. "He just loves President Lincoln, and after Lincoln passed away in 1865, Francis petitioned to have his birthday be a national holiday, started this celebration 150 years ago, and even funding the statue that's on our back steps today."
The celebration of Buffalo presidential history will continue during February break, with a "Presidential Palooza' of activities for kids and families.
More details are available through the history museum's website.