Chautauqua on Titanic survivor, talk on 1960 Olympics kick off July at Dangberg Historic Park
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Sun, 07/07/2024 - 12:36pm
Event Date:
July 10, 2024 - 6:30pm Chautauquas of Titanic survivor Violet Jessop, and Carson City teacher Hannah Clapp, as well as a talk on the 1960 Winter Olympics are featured as the first events of July, during the Dangberg Summer Festival.
On this 150th Anniversary of Chautauqua, Dangberg Historic Park is celebrating Wednesday night Chautauquas with the theme: "Follow Us on an Adventure!" All Wednesday evening Chautauquans have an adventurous tale to share with their audience.
On Wednesday, July 10, from 6:30-7:30 pm, Kim Harris will portray Violet Jessop, survivor of the sinkings of both the Titanic and Britannic ocean liners.
Violet Jessop was the only known rescued person with a toothbrush after the Britannic struck a mine and sank. Jessop had been on the Titanic four years earlier and remembered what she had missed.
Violet Jessop was there when Titanic sideswiped the iceberg and sank; four years later Jessop was a wartime nurse aboard the hospital ship Britannic. Service with the White Star Line put her in harm’s way, at the center of two epic maritime disasters.
Kim Harris is an accomplished Chautauquan with over 15 years’ experience, having presented local and national historical characters, from California to Bronxville, New York. Harris is the owner of Western History ALIVE! where she presents the lives of many famous and infamous historical figures.
Kim Harris is also a Titanic enthusiast and will have memorabilia on display for the audience to enjoy, prior to her presentation of Violet Jessop.
Wednesday evening Chautauqua ticket prices are $15 for 17 years and older. Youth 16 years and younger are free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets can be purchased at the event. Members of Friends of Dangberg Home Ranch will receive special pricing so please contact the park for more information. Gate opens at 5:30 pm.
On Friday, July 12, from 10:00-11:00 am, Cora Johnson will portray Hannah K. Clapp, a teacher, activist, and feminist in Nevada.
Hannah Keziah Clapp was born near Albany, New York, in 1824. While little is known about her childhood, at the age of twenty-five, Clapp appeared on the list of teachers at the Union Seminary in Ypsilanti, Michigan. In 1859, she joined her brother and his family as they made their cross-country wagon train journey to Vacaville, California.
Hannah Clapp taught in Vacaville for a year, then moved back across the Sierra Nevada to become one of the first professional educators in Carson City. Clapp is noted for being a pioneer in the fields of fashion, feminism, education, construction, women’s suffrage, and the University of Nevada at Reno.
Cora Johnson taught for thirty-six years in the subjects of Physical Education, history, English learners and retired as a high school librarian. Johnson’s lifelong curiosity in “what makes things tick” and how they are connected, along with wanting to know about the rich history of her new environs, prompted her to attend Dangberg Historic Park events where she discovered Chautauqua.
Cora Johnson chose a Chautauqua character in the field of education, thus relating her past career to northern Nevada. Johnson volunteers at the Dangberg Summer Festival events and the Nevada State Museum.
This event is free for all to attend.
On Saturday, July 13, from 10:00-11:00 am, David and Gayle Woodruff will speak on “Going for the Gold: The 1960 Winter Olympics”.
Alex Cushing and the State of California brought the 1960 Winter Olympics to the Lake Tahoe area, and Walt Disney brought the Olympics to the World. From hosting the first Olympics that truly utilized modern technology, to creating a world class Olympic training facility deep in the Sierra Nevada Forest, the Lake Tahoe region has played an important role in America’s success in both the Summer and Winter Olympics for generations. Using extensive research and seldom seen photos, the presentation will look back at “Big Blue’s” Olympic history.
David and Gayle Woodruff are the authors of several books on Eastern Sierra history, as well as presenters of a variety of local history programs.
This event is also free for all to attend.
Please bring your own seating and no pets allowed – certified service animals only. Guests are welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy as no food or beverages will be sold at these events. All events are held outdoors. For more information on these events, or on visiting Dangberg Historic Park, please visit Dangberg.org.
