Founder Abe Curry, early forms of recreation will be subjects of lectures this week

The Nevada State Museum, 600 N. Carson St., has several events planned for the remainder of April, including a special presentation on Abraham Curry, one of the city's founders.

WHAT: Frances Humphrey Lecture Series: "Abraham Curry: Carson City Developer and Promoter," by Robert A. Nylen, Curator of History

WHERE: Nevada State Museum; use the Robinson Street entrance on the south side of the main building while construction is underway.

WHEN: Tuesday, April 22, 7:30 pm

ADMISSION: Free for members and children; $5 adults, $3 seniors.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call the museum at 775 687-4810, ext. 239 or 245.

Other events at the museum

April 20-26 is National Coin Week with special activities on the theme "Money Makes the World Go Round." For more information, contact Robert Nylen at 775 687-4810, ext. 239 or 245.

April 25, Demonstration of Coin Press No. 1 by volunteers Ken & Karen Hopple in the Historic Carson City Mint building, 10:30 a.m.Ðnoon and 1Ð3 p.m. Anthropology Curator's Gallery Walk of Selections from the Collections by Dr. Eugene Hattori; 10 a.m.: for reservations, contact Deborah Stevenson at ext. 237.

April 26, Washo Stories for the entire family as told by Native American elders, Melba Rakow & Steven James, 1-2 p.m. and 2:30 Ð3:30 p.m. for more information, contact Deborah Stevenson at ext. 237.

Learn about entertainment in early Carson City

WHAT: The Carson City Historical Society will host a lecture titled "Reflections of Carson City - Entertainment and Recreation During the Carson Mint's Glory Years" with author and speaker Rusty Goe.

WHERE: The Carson City Library, 900 North Roop Street

WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday, April 24. The lecture is free and open to the public.

From the beginning, residents of Carson City loved all forms of entertainment and recreation. The community's leisure-time activities were rapidly cultivated during its first quarter century in existence. By the 1870s, in concurrence with the Comstock boom, Carson City's calendar of arts, entertainment and recreation events was full all year round.

Local author, coin dealer, and Carson Mint historian Rusty Goe will present a PowerPoint lecture on the most popular forms of entertainment and recreation in Carson City during the 1870s and 1880s.

Through words, images and sounds, Goe will depict indoor and outdoor activities experienced by Carsonites in town and out of the local area during the period 1875 to 1885.

As part of his talk on indoor activities, Goe will discuss Carson City's theater life, its social clubs, its parties and balls and its fraternal organizations. You will hear about Shakespearean plays, minstrel shows, and Gilbert and Sullivan musicals; and you will be introduced to a few of Carson's local artists.

As for Carson's outdoor activities, Goe will focus on picnics, sporting events and circuses.

He'll also speak about how special Lake Tahoe was to residents in northwestern Nevada, about Glenbrook's prominence as a tourist destination and also other popular points of interest at Tahoe, including McKinney's Landing, Emerald Bay, and Tallac House.

Other historical events in the area

Tickets are now available for the Douglas County Historical Society "Historic Emigrant Trail Barn Tour," to be held on Saturday, May 24, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $25. The tour will feature some of the most historic barns in Nevada, all located on the Carson River Route of the Emigrant Trail, as well as lunch. This is where the first permanent settlers in Nevada made their homes. Tickets can be purchased at the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center in Gardnerville, open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Saturday; Tahoe Ridge Winery in Genoa, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday thru Sunday. Tickets can also be purchased by credit card for an additional dollar by calling 775-782-2555.

BE A PART OF THE CELEBRATION

The Carson City Sesquicentennial Committee is looking for sponsors, vendors, crafters, bands and anyone else who would enjoy being a part of celebrating Carson City's 150th Birthday.

To commemorate the birthday, the Carson City Sesquicentennial Committee is recognizing many events to be held throughout the summer as Official Sesquicentennial Events, culminating on the weekend of Aug. 16.

The "Official Sesquicentennial Weekend" will be full of family events, including a two-day Coin Education Fair at the Nevada State Museum, The Children's Museum of Northern Nevada's Annual Carnival, and special events to be held at the Carson City Library, The Train Museum, and the Robinson House. The celebration will culminate with the Carson City Sesquicentennial Birthday Celebration and cutting of the Sesquicentennial Birthday Cake the afternoon of Aug. 16.

If you would like to sponsor the birthday party celebration or participate in any of the planned events, contact The Sesquicentennial Weekend Events Committee Co-chairs: Melodie Masterson at 775-841-7423, melodie@melodiouscreations.com; or Maxine Nietz at 775-887-1294, maxine.ag@sbcglobal.net

Do you have historic photos of Carson City? If you'd like to share them with the community, stop by the Appeal at 580 Mallory Way or call 881-1221. Copies can also be e-mailed to editor@nevadaappeal.com.