New exhibition celebrates 1960 Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley

A new exhibit that celebrates the 1960 Olympic Winter Games at Squaw Valley is opening at the Fausel House Gallery in Placerville on Friday, January 12 and will be running through March 9.

The curated exhibit will feature art, memorabilia and promotional items from those Olympics, the only to be held in Lake Tahoe and the first to be televised.

There will be a public opening reception on Thursday, January 18 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and will feature fondue - that classic recipe from the 1960s - generously supplied by Dedrick's Cheese, which will be paired with local wine. Collector Stan Batiste, author David C. Antonucci, and official Olympic photographer Bill Briner will also be in attendance to celebrate the opening of The Games of Winter and recapture the camaraderie of the 1960 Winter Olympic Games. Attendance and parking are free.

Antonucci has published two books on the 1960 Olympics Snowball's Chance: The Story of the 1960 Olympic Winter Games Squaw Valley & Lake Tahoe and The 1960 Olympics which is full of rare photos. Snowball's Chance is available at the Lake Tahoe Museum in South Lake Tahoe.

In the winter of 1960, the world flocked to a small vale high in the mountains to the northwest of Lake Tahoe. Fifty-eight years later, The Games of Winter brings you back to that thrilling time, evoking memories of the sting of cold air in your lungs, the crunch of snow underfoot, and the thundering cheer of the crowd as the best athletes in the world compete on the Olympic stage.

Generously loaned from the Museum of Sierra Ski History and 1960 Winter Olympics, and collector Stan Batiste, the items on display in this exhibition are truly unique to their time. Photographs capture the electrifying excitement of the spectators and champions alike, maps of the competition trails artistically show where the triumphs and losses occurred, and souvenirs exemplify the magic of the day.

Also supporting the exhibition is The Coachman Hotel in South Lake Tahoe. Gallery visitors who present the exhibition postcard during their stay at The Coachman will receive a complimentary glass of wine at the upscale hotel bar.

The Fausel Gallery is located at 772 Pacific St, Placerville.