IT was a momentous moment in history when the President of the United States visited Carlisle and was made an honorary freeman of the city.

Woodrow Wilson, whose mother Janet was born here, was given a warm welcomed by thousands of people who lined the streets to witness his arrival on December 29, 1918.

Today that moment will be re-enacted.

He and the First Lady were escorted from Citadel Station, where they were received by the Mayor of Carlisle Bertram Carr, to visit notable sites including the Congregational Church in Lowther Street, where his grandfather Thomas Woodrow preached, and Annetwell Street, the original site of his grandfather's chapel.

They also visited The Crown & Mitre Hotel, where the American leader signed the Freeman Roll, and the house in Warwick Road where his mother grew up.

It was his final visit to the city and one he described as a Pilgrimage of the Heart.

Before meeting with world leaders in Paris for the World War One peace conference at Versailles, Mr Wilson, the 28th US President, was invited to London to meet King George V and Queen Mary.

The Royal Train was then made available to him so he could make the journey to reacquaint himself with his family roots in Carlisle.

To commemorate the 100th anniversary, The Woodrow Wilson Society will re-enact the excitement of this Presidential visit.

Chairman Peter Dance, who lives in the house built by Mr Wilson's grandfather, said: "He was the first serving American president to visit Europe, let alone Carlisle.

"It was important to us because he wanted to visit the town where his mother came from and that is worth celebrating . This is why we are doing it. The best bit of it will be what happens at the station and the band will be playing."

Actors taking on the role of Mr and Mrs Wilson will be met by the Mayor of Carlisle at the station and welcomed by a fanfare from the Border Concert Ban. There will also be an announcement over the tannoy system marking the President's arrival. The actors will then retrace the steps made by Mr Wilson that day.

At the Congregational Church the acting president will also recite part of an emotional address made by Mr Wilson, before the party will make their way to the Crown & Mitre. Scores of people huddled under umbrellas, gathered there to welcomed Mr Wilson 100 years ago.

Followings his visit, The New York Times reported: "The warmth of the greeting of the people in the town and of the thousands of strangers from the surrounding country more than offset the dreariness of the weather."

The Woodrow Wilson Society was founded in Carlisle in 1999 and has marked notable anniversaries since then. Secretary Carol Donnelly said this is their biggest event to date and will probably be among their last. "We are doing it because it was a really big thing at the time. Everybody was out to try to see him for the short few hours he was in Carlisle," she said.

The American Embassy, MP John Stevenson and other local dignitaries have been invited to join the celebration.