Steve Hale will portray Stephen T. Mather, first director of the National Park Service, at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday, August 10, at 6:30 p.m.
Stephen Tying Mather distinguished himself as a consummate salesman, including the iconic 20 Mule Team Borax brand, which helped him amass a fortune by the early 20th century. After visiting the new western national parks and meeting John Muir, Mather went on to mold the vision of the new National Park Service and was honored by being appointed its first director in 1916.
The Chautauqua Series is sponsored by Soaring NV, Bently Enterprises, Carson Valley Accounting, Horse Tales Publications, Carson Valley Times, Carson Valley Inn and the Frances C. and William P. Smallwood Foundation. This series is also made possible with the assistance of Nevada Humanities, an independent affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Tickets are $5 for adults, free for 16 and younger. Tickets are available in Gardnerville at Battle Born Wine, in Minden at 88 Cups & More, and can also be purchased at dangberg.eventbrite.com. Unless sold out, tickets will also be available at the gate.
Steve Hale has been presenting historical figures from the Lake Tahoe region and the West for almost two decades. Along with Stephen T. Mather, they include John A. “Snowshoe” Thompson, George Whittell, Jr., Dr. James E. Church and John C. Fremont.
Most recently, Hale has been commissioned to portray Stephen T. Mather, in Yosemite, Lassen Volcanic and Death Valley National Parks, as part of the 2016 centennial celebration of the U.S. National Park Service.
The park is located at 1450 Highway 88, 1/4 mile north of the Carson Valley Veterinary Hospital. This is an outdoor event, and visitors should bring their own seating. Dogs are not permitted at this event. For more information, visit dangberghomeranch.org.
Other Chautauqua Series performances coming up at the park include “John Muir in Person” on August 24 and “Mary Pickford” on September 7. The park’s full 2016 event schedule is available at the park’s website.
The Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park is the 2012 and 2013 Reno-Tahoe Territory winner of the Nevada Commission on Tourism’s “Discover Your Nevada” contest. The site preserves the home of Heinrich F. Dangberg and three generations of descendants. The Dangbergs were a prominent ranching family in Carson Valley that founded Minden in 1905. The Park includes eight historic structures built between 1857 and 1917, along with a large collection of artifacts, documents and photographs. Programs include guided tours, concerts, Chautauqua and other public events. The Park is operated by Friends of Dangberg Home Ranch, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, in cooperation with its owner, Douglas County.