That last post went over so well that I feel the need to redeem myself. How about something truly one of a kind? The One and Only Presidential Museum (yep, that is the actual name of the place) in Williamsburg, Ohio is the brainchild of the one and only Nick Pahys. So what’s this thing about, you ask? In case you didn’t know, George Washington wasn’t the first U.S. President, John Hanson was. Followed by Presidents #2 through #8: Elias Boudinot, Thomas Miffin, Richard Henry Lee, John Hancock, Nathaniel Gorham, Arthur St. Clair and Cyrus Griffen. Who are these dudes? Well, before the U.S. Constitution there was thing called the Articles of Confederation, which was a complete failure because it gave power to the states and there was no central government. John Hanson was technically “President” in 1781, followed every year by the other guys until George Washington was elected under the new system in 1789. But was John Hanson really President when it was just a ceremonial title with no real executive power? I would think so, but Nick disagrees so he opened his museum over twenty years ago to correct the wrong and set the record straight. There are many hand-painted signs and portraits adorning the 2-story wood frame museum with such exclamations as “George W. Bush is not the 43rd President of the United States…he will never be…whether you like it or not.” Inside there is a bar that sells “Presidential Museum” beer and a general store. Upstairs is a large, cluttered room full of tables and chairs, posters, books, photos and assorted items. All the Presidents are represented with portraits lining the walls, but the the biggest portrait is not of Hanson, but of Pahys himself. Because this place is located in Ohio, another room is dedicated solely to the seven U.S. presidents who were born there. So don’t forget, in the mind of Nick Pahys, Barack Obama is the 52nd President, not the 44th. But that’s not the crazy part. Regarding the Obama/McCain election, Nick believes it is the “most unusual election I’ve seen in my entire life” and that Obama is being secretly bankrolled by Chicago’s political machine and that his favorable media coverage was due to his lavish spending on political ads. He also thinks it is “ridiculous that a man in my position has never been invited to the White House.” But he will not shut down the museum, because it’s “not for myself…it’s for future generations. Somebody’s got to do it. Just like Mahatma Gandhi.”
Amazing! Watch this video to see the man in action.
