Presidents of the United States are real people just like us. They have strengths, weaknesses and sometimes odd quirks.

First grade students at Redmond’s Norman Rockwell Elementary brought our nation’s leaders to life in a fun way, at a “Presidential Wax Museum” event on Wednesday.

In early January, teachers Carisa McCathern, Gena Thome and Lindsey Orser introduced presidents that the children would research and portray, complete with homemade costumes.

“They did research with their parents, learned one thing best-known about him, also an interesting fact, and his name, birthdate and number of presidency,” said Thome.

Most children had heard of the most famous presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. So this was an opportunity to become better acquainted with the rest. The students memorized five or six lines about their president of choice, which they recited when visitors to the Wax Museum touched a sticker on their hand.

Parents, grandparents, siblings and fellow students made the rounds and met the presidents.

Did you know that James Buchanan was the only president who never married? And that because he had poor eyesight, he always tilted his head to the left side?

Or that Warren G. Harding was known for being very friendly and playing brass instruments?

On the flipside, Calvin Coolidge was known for not talking much and having unusual pets, including a raccoon named Rebecca.

From Washington to Obama, all the presidents were represented and celebrated.

Naturally, the event was tied to the upcoming President’s Day holiday. And this year, said McCathern, “It was perfect timing with the election of the new president.”

The children watched the inauguration of President Barack Obama on TV, “and got to see how Obama did his speech,” she explained. “They said, ‘Wow, he really knows how to speak!’ and it made them very excited.”

This was the third year for the Presidential Wax Museum at Rockwell.