Living History

Members of the Carson City Leisure Hour Club will learn of the loves and losses of Julia Bulette, renowned resident of Virginia City, at their dinner meeting on Wednesday, October 18.

Bulette’s murder began a manhunt that last over a year and resulted in the arrest, trial, and the April 24, 1869 execution of John Millian.

In what was the largest gathering of people in Nevada up to that time, 3,000 to 4,000 people were present at the hanging.

Enjoy these September days, it will be blustery and cold before we know it. Celebrate our neighbor to the east during their annual Dayton Valley Days street festival. Tour their museums, pan for gold, and enjoy samples at their Chili cook-off. Downtown Carson is a hotbed of fun tonight with two pub crawls and the Ghost Walk Haunted History Tour. Keep reading for all of the happenings.

SATURDAY:

The Pirates Are Coming! Pirate Invasion of the Carson Mall Saturday, September 16th, 11am - 5pm; Age of Discovery Productions presents A Pirate’s Life.

Captain Dogfish Briggins is a collector of all things colonial, Primitive, and Seaworthy. He has a private arsenal to make Pirate Lords green with envy, as he could outfit the whole crew. This Saturday at the Carson Mall, you can listen to the Captain’s tales, learn about the firearms, clothes and lifestyles of the era. Meet “Tova” the parrot, get your photo taken with her, and more, mateys!

In a one man show, Chris Bayer will portray both Major William Ormsby and Lucky Bill Thorington in “The Major and the Gambler” at Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday, August 9, at 6:30 pm.

Major William Mathew Ormsby was born in 1814 in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Ormsby was a teamster, failed horse dealer, citizen at large, visionary and one of the most important figures in the founding of Nevada and its capitol, Carson City. He was killed in 1860 during the Pyramid Lake Paiute uprising.

Doug Mishler will portray former President of the United States “Theodore Roosevelt”, at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday, July 26, at 6:30 pm.

What are you in the mood for? The Third and Curry Farmers Market is always a great place to start off your weekend. Kids won’t mind getting up early for the Young Eagle airplane flights at the Carson City Airport – they are free of charge for kids 8 – 17, you just need to be on time for registration. The Annual Chili Cook-off returns to Glen Eagles this weekend; with live music, a craft fair, and lots of yummy stuff to eat, raising money for Honor Flight has never tasted so good. Keep reading, there is plenty more in store.

SATURDAY:

Doug Watson will portray legendary humorist “Will Rogers”, at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday, July 12, at 6:30 pm.

Steve Hale will portray the legendary mailman of the Sierra, Jon A. “Snowshoe Thompson, at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday, June 21, at 6:30 pm.

When Jon Thompson put on his 8-foot skis and heavy leather mail pack in 1856, he skied to Genoa and into history. His two to three day 90-mile crossings (one way) carrying the mail and valuable packages of up to 100 pounds on his back through the snow have never been physically duplicated, not even with modern equipment. This extraordinary feat has become part of the legacy and spirit of the pioneer American West.

Enjoy light refreshments and an afternoon of fun at the Historic Fourth Ward School Museum as Yvonne Sullivan and the Living History Ladies demonstrate "what is under that dress."

They will be dressing from the corset out, including what a lady wore during the day, depending on what activity she was attending. Yvonne has been sewing costumes for over 30 years. She and her friends enjoy getting together often to sew their historical dresses from the 1860's, 1870's and 1880's.

Hold on to your hat, the weekend is here. If it’s a cowboy hat, head over to Genoa for their annual Cowboy Festival. Plenty of free things to see, hear, and experience await. The annual Spring Earth Spirit Faire lets you celebrate Mother Earth with workshops, holistic practitioners, great vendors, and a raffle. It benefits the Heart to Heart School and Advocates to End Domestic Violence so it’s always worth checking out. You’ll have to keep reading for all of your choices, the spring thaw brings out the best this valley has to offer.

SATURDAY:

Members of the Carson City Leisure Hour Club will share in the history of Laura D. Fair, Fatal Mistress.

Four times married, twice widowed and twice divorced all by the age of 33, Laura Fair was the first woman in California sentenced to hang for the murder of her lover, Alexander Parker Crittenden in November of 1870.

Members of the Carson City Leisure Hour Club will share in the history of Laura D. Fair, Fatal Mistress. Four times married, twice widowed and twice divorced all by the age of 33, Laura Fair was the first woman in California sentenced to hang for the murder of her lover, Alexander Parker Crittenden in November of 1870.

Disagreement is part of human nature, especially in any society that values people as unique individuals.

Geoff was reminded of that recently when he and his sainted wife Jenna watched a reenactment of the Jefferson-Adams debates. Bill Barker and Steven Holloway, two scholars from the Colonial Williamsburg living history museum, played Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, respectively.

The weather cools down just as the fun heats up. Fundraisers, contests, food, football, outhouse races and more. Carson Valley Community Theater has one last performance of ‘The Savannah Sippin Society.’ Pooches in costume are welcome at Genoa’s last Sweet Sippin Sunday: there will be a pet parade at 3 p.m. And for all those brides out there's there's a fall wedding faire at Silver Oak Golf Club. Read on: there is something for everyone.

SUNDAY:

Good luck, Carson City. The options for this weekend are endless, but you can’t be everywhere at once. CASI’s annual Pooch Plunge at the Carson Aquatic Center is always a fun time for your furry friends. Red’s Old 395 welcomes back the THiNK PiNK kick-off to breast cancer awareness month. Downtown you’ll find the wine walk, a rummage sale at the Veterans Memorial Hall, and the Fall Vintage Market at Due Sorella. Toast the season at Fandango: Oktoberfest has returned. Keep reading and be prepared to make some hard choices.

SATURDAY:

A free Western Heritage Festival comes to the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Saturday, September 17, beginning at 10:00 am.

The festival will include Dutch oven cooking, a heritage quilting presentation, Chautauquas of local historical figures, honky-tonk guitar and jug music, as well as a day filled with children’s crafts and activities.

If you're a Warbird buff, don't miss this opportunity to see and ride in the historic B-25J Mitchell Bomber. She'll be flying out of the Carson City Airport September 14-16, and the Truckee Airport September 17-18. This is a rare chance to experience a piece of living history.

Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Exhibition comes to the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Saturday, August 27, beginning at 11:00 am.

The weekend of July 23 and 24 the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park will feature two days of Dangberg family history with a Chautauqua on Fred Dangberg, Jr. and a presentation by his real life grandson Steve “Dink” Achard. Both presentations are free.

Larry Ford will present “Virgil Earp: The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral” at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday, July 20, at 6:30 pm.

A lone rider on a stout draft horse trotted down Curry Street to the claps and cheers of a welcoming committee a little after 2:15 Thursday afternoon.

Witness living history in motion Thursday afternoon as the Pony Express gallops into the state capital for the commemorative hand-off of the mail-bearing Mochila.

Rimfire is a bit unusual as 19th Century Nevada towns go.

Although there's a saloon, a bank, a hotel, a cantina and a jail, Rimfire is the only town in the Silver State that can pack up and leave with its residents.

Seventy-two years ago today, the largest seaborne invasion force the world had ever seen landed on the shores of Northern France, both making and changing history at the same time.

D-Day, June 6, 1944, was the beginning of the end of Nazi rule across Europe.

In honor of WWII veterans, the Collings Foundation’s Wings of Freedom Tour returns to the Minden Tahoe Airport next month again bringing rare bomber and fighter aircraft living history displays as part of its 110-city nationwide tour.

The changing of the monthly guard is happening. The first of May is Sunday and Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Music, theater, sports, shopping and more will be abundant in the valley this weekend, so make sure to take a good look at this weekend’s list for all of your fun options.

SATURDAY:

• Nevada Artists Association Art Exhibit featuring Bill Migan and Photography by Chas. H. McDonnell, III at the Carson Visitor Center (8am-5pm)
• Coffee and Donuts with EAA Sierra Chapter 403 at 2500 E. College Pkwy (8:30am-12pm, all welcome)

The weekend has arrived, and it is packed with things to do. Pull on your cowboy boots and head out to the Cowboy Festival in Genoa. Head out to the ballfield: the WNC Wildcats softball and baseball teams are playing at home today and tomorrow. It’s the final weekend of the Proscenium Players production of Harvey; get ready for a great show. Check out the nightlife section of my list of things to do for all the music, karaoke, theater, and dancing that Carson City has going on tonight.

FRIDAY:

A mountain of star-filled concerts, blockbuster festivals, heart-pounding athletic competitions, fireworks, and tee-to-green celebrity golf action are on-tap this summer at Tahoe South.

Tahoe South Favorites

It’s a living history kind of day with presentations all around. Head up to the Gold Hill Hotel for their weekly lecture series, but don’t forget to make a reservation. The Historical Society of Douglas County discusses the facts and fiction behind Lucky Bill at the Cultural Center and Museum in Gardnerville. The Nevada Division of the Pony Express Association keeps history alive and you are welcome to attend their monthly meeting at Grandma Hattie’s tonight. Pay homage to your favorite singers of yesteryear with karaoke at Living the Good Life or Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar.

THURSDAY:

• Last Day to RSVP for the Jan. 20 Leisure Hour Club Dinner Meeting with speaker Rick Gunn (If you would like to attend this event, please call Dorothy Link at 775-885-2542)

Barbara Mackey leaves the Fourth Ward School in Virginia City standing tall as its executive director having re-energized the community'sm commitment to remaining a living history of Virginia City’s heyday. From 2001 to 2015, Mackey raised more than $2 million from donors and through grants to implement programs to maintain the school’s historical significance.