Historian Frank Mullen to speak on Donner tragedy

Historian and author Frank X. Mullen will present his program, “In the Footsteps of the Donner Party”, in a free presentation at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Saturday, June 4, at 10:00 am.

Frank X. Mullen, author of The Donner Party Chronicles: A Day-By-Day Account of a Doomed Wagon Train, takes audiences on the trail of pioneers in a presentation that features artifacts and reproductions of items used by 1840s travelers. Mullen explores the tragedy and the triumph of a group of families who thought they were in for a 2,000-mile walk across the continent, but entered the pages of history as victims of an unproven shortcut, unseasonably cold weather, and cannibalism. The families were snowbound in the Sierra about 30 miles west of Reno during the terrible winter of 1846-47 and only half of the group survived.
This presentation is part of the park's Ferris Family Speaker Series, named in honor of the family of Margaret Ferris-Dangberg, the wife of ranch founder Heinrich F. Dangberg Mullen’s presentation is also made possible with the assistance of Nevada Humanities, an independent affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Mullen is a Reno-based newspaperman known for his investigative pieces. He teaches journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno, lectures about the history of the Silver State, and regularly performs in the Nevada Humanities Chautauqua program and other Chautauqua venues nationwide. In 2002 and 2005, he was named Nevada's Outstanding Journalist by the Nevada Press Association. He holds a Master’s degree in journalism/new media from UNR, has won many state and national reporting/writing awards, and is working on a number of books about Nevada.

This event is an outdoor event and open to the public. Please bring your favorite comfortable camp chair and a shaded seating area is available. Dogs should be left at home. The park is a Douglas County facility and is subject to all applicable rules and regulations.

For more information, visit dangberghomeranch.org or call 775-783-9417. The park’s full 2016 event schedule is available at the park’s website.

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