Snowshoe Thompson Chautauqua the subject of Sept. 21 Frances Humphrey Lecture
The story of John A. “Snowshoe” Thompson will be told through a Chautauqua performance by Steve Hale on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. at the Nevada State Museum in Carson City.
Snowshoe Thompson not only demonstrated extraordinary physical endurance delivering mail over the Sierra Nevada mountains in the winter, but he also showed great compassion, integrity and honesty toward others that earned him their deepest respect.
Between 1856 and 1876, the “Mailman of the Sierra” delivered the U.S. mail between post offices in Genoa, Nevada, and Hangtown (now Placerville), California, traversing the daunting Sierra Nevada mountains alone, twice a month on skis in the winter, while carrying a mail sack weighing as much as 100 pounds on his back.
Thompson lived, worked and raised his family with wife Agnes and son Arthur in Diamond Valley, while devoting himself to selflessly giving back to the Carson Valley area as a neighbor, businessman and in public service.
His Norwegian stamina, spirit and homemade wooden “snow-shoes” (now known as "skis") made the legend we know of today, but his dedication to the mail and unwavering devotion to his family, community and fellow man have permanently established him in American western history.
This lecture will be presented in person only. Admission is $10 for adults. Members and children 17 and under are free.
Visit https://www.carsonnvmuseum.org/event/frances-humphrey-lecture-series-joh... to register for this lecture.
The Nevada State Museum is located at 600 N. Carson Street in Carson City.