On Saturday the Society will host President James K. Polk's return to Chapel Hill, complete with period decorations, music and soldiers of the era.

The event seems like a pleasant day of living history, but why Polk?

"I had originally planned the event based on the age of the Horace Williams House," said Ernest Dollar, director of the Preservation Society. "But the more I learned about Polk's presidency, the more I realized it eerily mirrored current events, making our program a chance to point our history's relevance."

Polk took a rare trip away from the White House in 1847 to visit his alma mater in Chapel Hill. Polk attended the University of North Carolina in 1816 and became the 11th president of the United States, only one of three from North Carolina, in 1844. During his visit to Chapel Hill national issues such as war, immigration and the economy consumed America. By highlighting the similarities between the 1840s and the first decade of the 21st century, Dollar hopes to demonstrate history's role in modern times.

"I was struck by the comparison between the dubious beginnings of the Mexican War and the controversy surrounding the invasion of Iraq," said Dollar.

A similar issue Dollar highlights as another connection our America has with Polk's age is the question of immigration.

"Then it was the Irish, not Latinos, but Americans viewed the issue in almost the same light," he said.

The irony of the era is also evident in comparing Polk's election in 1844 to George Bush's in 2000. Polk was the country's first dark-horse candidate and won when a third political party siphoned away votes from the popular candidate Henry Clay.

"It really makes you consider the old axiom of history repeating itself," Dollar said.

For a schedule of events visit the Preservation Society of Chapel Hill's website at www.chapelhillpreservation.com or call the Horace Williams House at 942-7818.