dangberg ranch

The final Chautauqua of the 2019 Festival season will portray Hiram D. Scott, Alpine County, California pioneer, on Sunday, September 22, at 10:00 am.

Hiram Daniel Scott was a ship builder from Pittston, Maine by trade. Initially he settled in Santa Cruz, California in 1847, then followed the Gold Rush when gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill. There he operated a ferry business across the San Joaquin River.

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August continues with a Chautauqua presentation of Mary McNair Mathews and a presentation by author Brooke Santina at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park.

On Wednesday, August 14, at 6:30pm, Mary McNair Mathews, Comstock businesswoman and author of the book Ten Years in Nevada will be portrayed by Anita Watson.

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The month of July will end with a Chautauqua presentation of Duane L. Bliss, as August begins with the Millennium Bugs in concert at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park.

On Wednesday, July 31, at 6:30 pm, Doug Mishler will portray Duane L. Bliss, Comstock era lumber baron of Lake Tahoe.

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A classic film, cowboy poetry and western music in mid-July at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park.

On Thursday, July 18, at 6:30 pm, train expert Jim Clark will introduce and provide commentary on the 1926 film The General.

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Young Chautauquans of the Douglas County Historical Society will present "We Taught the World New Ways to Dream" at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday, June 26, at 6:30 pm.

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Early June events launch the 2019 Summer Festival at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park.

On Saturday, June 1, at 10:00 am, Wendell Huffman, Curator of History at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City, will speak on the history of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad in Carson Valley, as well as the 150th Anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. This is a free event.

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Sierra Sweethearts will bring bluegrass music to Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park at 6:30 pm, Thursday, August 23.

Sierra Sweethearts are Northern Nevada’s premier all woman ensemble. The band features sparkling vocal harmonies and sizzling instrumentals.

Winners of the 2017 “Forte Award for Northern Nevada’s Best Bluegrass/Americana Band", the Sweethearts serve up an exciting mix of bluegrass, cowboy, swing and country classics, spiced with generous amounts of humor.

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Chautauquan Deke DiMarzo will portray Watchman Alex Coryell: Virginia City Police Department 1873 to 1891 at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday, August 15 at 6:30 pm.

Alex R. Coryell was a watchman for the Virginia City Police Department from 1873 until June 25, 1891. Coryell was a Civil War veteran who left the state of Virginia after the war and moved to Virginia City, Nevada. His family became well known and prominent in Virginia City, with one of his relatives becoming a pharmacist on C Street.

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Chautauquan and noted local historian Michael Fischer will portray “Heinrich Friedrich Dangberg, Sr.” in a free presentation at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Saturday, August 4, at 10:00 am.

H. F. Dangberg, Sr. helped to shape the agricultural and livestock history of Carson Valley. Beginning with 160 acres in 1856, Dangberg built an empire of ranches and farms that covered over 30,000 acres by 1902 when he formed the H. F. Dangberg Land & Live Stock Company. Some of the irrigation ditches, canals and reservoirs he dug are still in use today.

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In a return engagement, Sacramento area band, Todd Morgan and the Emblems, will bring 50s, 60s and Rockabilly style music to Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park at 6:30 pm, Thursday, July 26.

Todd Morgan and the Emblems is a young four-piece band, led by singer-songwriter and musician Todd Morgan. The band’s music consists of original pop and rock music, along with covers of 50s and 60s Rock-n-Roll and up to present day pop and rock songs. The band has recorded 3 albums.

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Author and grandson of Fred Dangberg Jr., Steve Achard will speak on his book Lost Legacy of Carson Valley, as well as his memories of growing up at the Home Ranch, in a free presentation at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Sunday, July 15, at 10:00 am.

The book Lost Legacy of Carson Valley, which Steve Achard co-authored with Conrad Buedel, shares the history of H. F. Dangberg Sr., as well as the rise and fall of one of Nevada’s most prominent pioneer families.

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Chautauquan Doug Mishler will portray circus showman P.T. Barnum at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday, July 11 at 6:30 pm.

Phineas Taylor Barnum was an American showman, politician and businessman remembered for promoting celebrated hoaxes and for founding the Barnum & Bailey Circus. The circus business was the source of much of his enduring fame. He established "P. T. Barnum's Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan & Hippodrome", a traveling circus, menagerie, and museum of "freaks", which adopted many names over the years.

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The Old West Trio will bring classic Western music to Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park at 6:30 pm, Thursday, June 28.

The Old West Trio is celebrating over 20 years of performing Western-themed music, from classic Sons of the Pioneers and Gene Autry tunes to contemporary Americana masterpieces. The trio are also recipients of the 2011 Western Duo/Group of the Year and a top-five nominee for 2014 Western Duo/Group of the Year by the Academy of Western Artists.

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Mark Twain will share how, as Samuel Clemens, he traveled from the Mississippi River to Nevada Territory and why he came west. He will describe what he saw when he got here in 1861, and if he really took his pen name "Mark Twain" while living in Nevada. This lighthearted, humorous, yet rigorously researched Chautauqua presentation examines Nevada through the eyes of one of America’s greatest literary figures. Offering fresh insight into the much loved writer, this presentation is intended to motivate the reading of good books and inspire the pursuit of creative writing.

As I sat on the lawn in front of the historical Dangberg Ranch on Sunday, I smiled and imagined that South Lake Tahoe could have such a place.

The house that stands at the Dangberg Ranch, which is adjacent to the Park Ranch on Hwy 89 just north of Mottsville Lane, was home to a family that played an important role in the growth and shaping of the Carson Valley. They founded Minden, NV and established many businesses in the areas of banking, farming and a hotel. Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park preserves this essential chapter in Nevada’s history.

Kites will take to the skies above historic Dangberg Ranch over the weekend of May 16-17 during the "Something in the Wind" festival. Expert kite flyers, kite making and other children's crafts, as well as wind artists will be featured.

This is a celebration of the Washoe Zephyr, the seasonal diurnal winds that are in Western Nevada.

There will be eight expert kite flyers from the Rogue Valley Windchasers Kite Club from Brookings, OR at the two day event along with Balloon Nevada with their hot air balloons on display.

Saturday and Sunday, May 16-17

South Tahoe Now is starting a new series of stories about historical places to visit, all within a couple of hours drive from South Lake Tahoe.

The Sierra Nevada and Carson Valley are rich in history. I knew this growing up, but never really appreciated it until I was well into adulthood. Having lived in South Lake Tahoe for over 35 years , I continue to learn about the area’s history and historical points of interest, and appreciate the previous residents more every day.

Have you dined with the ghost of Mark Twain recently? If not, the historic Dangberg Ranch in Minden, NV is giving you an opportunity!

The non-profit Friends of Dangberg Home Ranch will present a day of music, art and Americana on Saturday, September 13, to raise operating funds for the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park.

The main event is a reservations-only gala dinner, "Under Western Skies: Dinner with Mark Twain," at 5:30 p.m., featuring McAvoy Layne performing as the ghost of Mark Twain.