Audrain County’s Walk Back in Time festival will return to the Historical Society grounds Friday, Sept.  22-Sunday Sept. 24.

Highlights this year will include a slew of historical camps in a unique timeline, including Vikings in America, Medieval swordsmen, pirates, 1770s colonists, 1830s mountain men, 1860 Pony Express, 1860s Civil War, Native Americans, 1880s Wild West, 1912 Titanic and more.

New at WBIT 2023 

In addition to our traditional little western town of South Fork, our Walk Back in Time (WBIT) Festival will highlight the Old West, - including a snake oil salesman, Civil War ambulance, and more. WBIT will welcome “Stagecoach Journey” with Rick and Bev Hamby and crew. Hamby’s original stagecoach was built in the 1880s in Concord, New Hampshire and then sent to the rugged West to carry passengers and mail on its circuit. Rick and Bev, with the crew, will entertain guests with tales of this historic coach and what its life was really like.

Included in the Old West sector is 1800s mortician, Phil Woolfolk and blacksmith, Sean George. Dusty James and Abalone Pearl will bring tunes from the rugged trails. Native American flautist Jack Holland will deliver the mystic beauty of this archaic instrument.   

“We are currently selecting vendors who are talented painters, and other visual artists, whom we feel will enhance our visitors’ experience,” said Lori Pratt, society director. “Handmade baskets, scrimshaw, pottery, etc. will sell their wares.”

The event’s traditional fag raising ceremony will honor, “The Famous, the Venerable and the Remembered”:  General and president George Washington, General and president Ulysses S. Grant, Brevet General Kit Carson, General and president Teddy Roosevelt, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, American Intellectual Frederick Douglas, the Talented Marian Anderson,  the Iconic Buffalo Bill, the Compassionate and Daring Harriet Tubman and Missouri’s own Tom Bass, renowned horseman, trainer and showman.

On Saturday evening from 7-9 p.m., a free event will be offered, with an all new by-the-campfires experience, “Melodies of Long Ago”.  Selected historical camps will perform the music of that specific period, so come and freely walk the melodic paths amidst the shadows of the lanterns and experience alluring voices re-awakened.  Musical time periods: Colonial, Old West, Civil War, Native American, Christian, World I-II, Titanic, Vietnam and others.  

All living historians are welcome to contribute to Saturday evening’s event which is open to visitors until 9 p.m.

Familiar Faces

The proud Missouri Military Academy will march in honor of America's veterans on Sunday afternoon.

Lewis and Clark will fill their encampment with furs, wayfinding equipment and authentic clothing. 

The event will offer visitors the impressive display of World War One Biplanes, one French and one German.

Suffragettes, in the tradition of rights to all, will present a broadened view of contributors to our American nation by highlighting those historical mentors who were most instrumental in advancing our struggle for a more perfect “Liberty and Justice for all.”

Walk Back in Time will be held at the museum complex, 501 Muldrow, Mexico. For more information, visit audrain.org.