Both the nieces dress up like it's 1832 and sit around answering the questions of the tourons (half tourist, half moron, or so they tell me). They might also demonstrate some aspect of life in the 1830s as it was when Lincoln trod the streets of New Salem, but they refuse to consider my suggestion of nightsoil collecting. The most annoying question they or anyone who works there gets is, "Aren't you hot?"

They are also asked if the oxen are real (yes) and how many times a day they milk the oxen.

The youngest niece (16) was asked if they really had babies in 1832. This was a serious question.