Talk about history coming alive.

Come to The Henry Ford on September 21 at 7 p.m. for a free lecture with Del Quintin Wilber, author of The New York Times bestseller Rawhide Down: The Near Assassination of Ronald Reagan, and Jerry Parr, a retired Secret Service agent and Reagan’s head of security detail at the time.

Wilber’s book provides fascinating detail of the events of that gray March day in 1981 when would-be assassin John Hinkley, Jr., attempted to take Reagan’s life. Parr is the agent who pushed Reagan into the waiting vehicle, and is credited with saving the president’s life–twice that day.

The men will talk about the attempt on the president’s life while standing in Henry Ford Museum beside one of the key artifacts of that historic day: Reagan’s presidential limousine.

That 1972 Lincoln, part of the museum’s presidential limousine collection, proved to be both safe haven and rescue vehicle, by blocking fire and then carrying Reagan to George Washington University Hospital in the crucial minutes after the shooting.

The lecture (and parking) is free but registration is required. You can call (313)-982-6001 or visit www.thehenryford.org/events/lectureRawhideDown.aspx.

Enter at the IMAX theater.

Del Quintin Wilber is an award-winning author and journalist for The Washington Post. He has chronicled the trial of former Senator Ted Stevens and has written extensively about issues surrounding Guantanamo Bay. Wilber thought of the idea for Rawhide Down, during his experience attending the hearing of John W. Hinkley, Jr. The lecture will culminate with a book signing with Wilber. The book will be available for purchase.