Abraham Lincoln impersonator Kevin Wood to visit Adrian District Library Thursday

Brad Heineman, The Daily Telegram
·2 min read
Kevin Wood is an Abraham Lincoln impersonator who has been portraying the 16th president of the United States since 2000. Wood will appear at the Adrian District Library during a 6:30 p.m. program, Thursday, Feb. 17.
Kevin Wood is an Abraham Lincoln impersonator who has been portraying the 16th president of the United States since 2000. Wood will appear at the Adrian District Library during a 6:30 p.m. program, Thursday, Feb. 17.
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ADRIAN — Abraham Lincoln’s birthday was observed Saturday. The 16th president of the United States, if he were still alive, would have celebrated his 213th birthday this weekend.

In many ways, his legacy as president continues to impact generations to this day.

Lincoln, who lived to be 56 and is well-known for delivering the Gettysburg Address, abolishing slavery and being one of four presidents who was assassinated, served as president from March 4, 1861, to his date of death April 15, 1865.

Even though Lincoln himself won’t be present in Adrian, a “living history” presentation of the former president can be seen at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, at the Adrian District Library, 143 E. Maumee St. in downtown Adrian.

For more than 20 years, Kevin Wood has been impersonating and portraying "The Great Emancipator," America's 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Wood, who has previously visited the Adrian District Library, will return for a program at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17.
For more than 20 years, Kevin Wood has been impersonating and portraying "The Great Emancipator," America's 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Wood, who has previously visited the Adrian District Library, will return for a program at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17.

Lincoln presenter Kevin Wood, who the library said “bears an uncanny resemblance” to America’s 16th president, will present “Abraham Lincoln: A New Birth of Freedom” as part of the library’s Building Bonanza program in the Community Room. The event is offered at no cost, is open to the community and an Adrian District Library card is not needed in order to attend.

Wood’s presentation will focus on Lincoln’s childhood years and the years of 1854-65, which the library said in a news release, was a period in which “the issue of slavery led to conflict and nearly tore the country apart.”

“You will hear from some of Lincoln’s most well-known speeches and writings,” the release said.

Besides Wood’s likeness to Lincoln, he also brings an expansive knowledge to every performance, the release said. He has been portraying Lincoln since 2000 and has made more than 1,300 appearances in 31 states and several countries. He also writes a blog in which he encourages people to learn and reflect upon the legacy of “The Great Emancipator.”

Wood can be found online at www.mrlincoln.com. Following his presentation, he will be available to answer questions.

“When Kevin, but maybe I should really say Abe, visited the ADL recently, it was like a piece of history just walked into the library,” Jennifer Noble, ADL adult and teen services librarian, said in the release. "It was on Thanksgiving that he ran a 5K race dressed as Abraham, so I can only imagine the energy he’s going to the bring to this program.”

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Abraham Lincoln impersonator to visit Adrian District Library Thursday