A Chautauqua provides people an opportunity to learn about history, be entertained by local and usually novice music and be inspired in the process. The "Lincoln, Land and Liberty" Chautauqua will be coming to Bismarck State College on Friday, and is primarily aimed at educating North Dakotans about President Abraham Lincoln's impact on North Dakota.

"They brought their unique blend of education, inspiration and entertainment," said Mike McCormack, Bismarck State College history professor, about the early Chautauquas.

Chautauqua will begin at 6:15 p.m. Friday on the fourth floor of the Bismarck State College National Energy Center of Excellence with the musical stylings of Family Folk and at 7 an evening with Abraham Lincoln, played by George Frein.

"He becomes Lincoln and will talk about the years he effected North Dakota," McCormak said.

At 10 on Saturday morning, there will be a program on poems written by Walt Whitman about Lincoln, like "O Captain, My Captain." Also on Saturday, there will be a program at 2 p.m. about Lincoln and the Homestead Act. Musical entertainer Art Rude will perform at 6:15 p.m., and Charles Everett Pace will impersonate Frederick Douglass at 7 p.m.

The last day of Chautauqua, Sunday, will begin at 1:30 p.m. with a program about Douglass and black soldiers during the Civil War. At 3 p.m., Frein will describe the role of Lincoln as a writer. Family Folk will return to perform at 6:15 p.m. Carrol Peterson will present an evening with Walt Whitman at 7 p.m. The final presentation of Chautauqua will involve all of the presenters. They will explore historian connections between Lincoln, Douglass and Whitman with Jerry Tweton moderating as North Dakota's first governor William Jayne.

"It is aimed at all kinds of audiences," McCormack said of Chautauqua.

All of the portrayers are scholars and historians. They first become their designated 18th century figure and then answer questions about this historical figure as the person and from their view as historians. All daytime programs will be held in room 304 of the Bismarck State College National Energy Center of Excellence, and evening programs on the fourth floor of the building.

The North Dakota Humanities Council is sponsoring Chautauqua not only in Bismarck , but also in Fargo and in Jamestown.

"President Theodore Roosevelt once called it (Chautauqua) the most American thing in America," McCormack said.