C-SPAN programs featuring Carson City to air this weekend

Carson City will be featured on the C-SPAN network's two channels this weekend after their visit to the capital city earlier this month.

In addition to having feature stories sprinkled in throughout the weekend on the respective networks, both American History TV and Book TV, there will be a block of programming where all of the respective Carson City pieces for their networks will air, said C-SPAN spokeswoman Laura Finch.

The Book TV Carson City block will be on Saturday, Aug. 3, 8 a.m. Pacific Time, noon Eastern. The American History TV block will be on Sunday, Aug. 4, beginning at 1 p.m.

C-SPAN video producers spent a week touring the capital city for the series, which will feature state capitals around the U.S.

The Carson City programs will feature:

— The rare train collections at the Nevada State Railroad Museum that houses the only surviving fully restored McKeen Car, named a national historic landmark in 2012. Hear Museum Director Frank Ackerman talk about the history of Nevada’s Virginia and Truckee Railroad and its growth that paralleled Nevada’s mining industry in the mid-1800s

— The Nevada State Capitol Building with Guide Ron Roberts –go inside to see the marble halls of the Nevada State Capitol Building, which was completed in 1871. See the statue of Sarah Winnemucca, a Native American activist and educator that greets visitors as they enter the building, and hear the story of Nevada becoming a state in the midst of the Civil War

— The discovery site that sparked Nevada’s gold and silver rush, known as the Comstock Lode. See the area around Virginia City and Gold Hill, where mining boomed after 1859— including the site where prospectors first found gold in the area and later mined for silver. View the remnants of one of the mines involved in one of the state’s deadliest mining disasters, a fire which killed at least 35 miners.

— The Nevada State Archives to view documents related to the state’s federal land claims. The Federal Government owns about 85 percent of the land in Nevada. Hear State Archivist Jeff Kintop explain the history that dates back to the Nevada State Constitution.

Viewers will learn about:

— The Stewart Indian School — located in Carson City — the school was one of many created around the United States near the end of the 19th century to assimilate Native American children. Hear Chairman of the Nevada Indian Commission Richard Arnold talk about the school’s history and share the story about his own mother’s experiences as a student there.

— The history of the Carson City Mint. The Mint began pressing gold and silver coins in 1870, and created an economic boom as one of the largest employers in the area. Both men and women worked at the mint, which was responsible for 50 issues of silver coins and 57 issues of gold coins until it ceased operations in 1893. Hear Nevada State Museum Curator Bob Nylen talk about the importance of the “CC” mint mark to coin collectors today.

They will hear:

— Governor Brian Sandoval (R) talk about the state of Nevada, its history and preparations for the Sesquicentennial in 2014.

— The History of Legalized Prostitution in Nevada from historian and former Nevada State Archivist Guy Rocha, which dates back to the mid-1800s and the discovery of the Comstock Lode. Nevada is the only state in the U.S. with legalized brothel prostitution. Madame Susan Austin of the Mustang Ranch, which became the state's first licensed brothel in 1971, talks about day to day life for the people who work and frequent her brothel.

Book TV features include:

— American author and humorist Samuel Clemens and his time spent in Carson City from local historian Guy Rocha. Clemens came to Carson City in 1861 hoping to strike it rich in mining. When those endeavors didn’t work out, he found work as a writer at the Territorial Newspaper in nearby Virginia City. It was there Samuel Clemens began donning the name, “Mark Twain.”

— Women’s role in Nevada’s gaming industry from Susan Chandler, co-author of “Casino Women: Courage in Unexpected Places”. Traditionally in casinos, women were only given two jobs - hotel maid or waitress. Hear Chandler talk about how women have developed a stronger, more powerful voice but are still struggling with some issues.

— Carson City Library Nevada History Collection to see librarian Susan Antipa show the collection of books about the history of Carson City and the state of Nevada.

Viewers will also be able to take a tour of the private Mark Twain Collection of Carson City resident, Jerry Bartholomew. Since college, Bartholomew has had an interest in Twain and began collecting anything and everything bearing the writer’s name. Bartholomew has amassed a collection of over 1,000 items — including books, stamps and ties.

They will be able to also hear Michael Makley, author of “The Infamous King of the Comstock: William Sharon and the Gilded Age in the West” talk about William Sharon, a former U.S. Senator and businessman, who profited from the silver mining boom at the Comstock Lode. Makley explains how Sharon made his fortune at the Comstock and his impact on Nevada history.

Viewers will be able to explore the Dangberg Ranch with authors Conrad Buedel and Steve Achard “Lost Legacy of Carson Valley: The Rise and Fall of the H.F. Dangberg Ranching Empire” as they tell the story of Steve’s family – The Dangbergs. Hear how H.F. Dangberg immigrated to the U.S. and acquired over 33,000 acres of land and began his ranching empire to the family turmoil that led to the fall of their company.

For more information on the Local Content Vehicles tour of U.S. cities, go to www.c-span.org/localcontent.