Reprinting our favorite past columns on Lincoln.

Ben Franklin, sewer gas and someone running late – it’s the unexpected that make tours memorable.

About 20 people came on my free John Wilkes Booth-Abe Lincoln assassination tour on Saturday. I prefer smaller groups so that number is fine.

But it’s the funny and odd stuff that I’ll remember. Like a Ben Franklin character walking through my group at Lafayette Park. That’s a showstopper. I’m not sure what he was doing, but I wasn’t continuing my tour until Ben finished having photos taken with people in my group.

The construction on F St. between 14th and 15th Sts. somehow emitted the worst sewer gas imaginable. Try talking through that.