Historical society gears up for summer events

Saturday is the long awaited Great Barns of Carson Valley Tour. If you haven't gotten your ticket yet, call 782-2555 and reserve it by credit card today. You can't get in without a ticket.

What a great barn tour this promises to be. All the barns are in the central valley. You'll see old favorites like Henningsen and ones new to us on the tour like Mack Land and Cattle. You'll also be allowed to see two refurbished outbuildings at Lampe/Jacobs. And you have the chance to actually see the Dangberg Home Ranch barn. This is the heart of where Carson Valley started.

After the tour, stop by the Gardnerville museum for the ice cream social. Have your favorite ice cream and toppings and visit with others who took the tour. Be sure to buy any last minute raffle tickets for the framed photo and poem donated by cowboy poet Ken Gardner. The raffle will take place during the social, but the winner need not be present.

You may even want to snap a photo or two on the tour to enter into the May photo contest. You'll have until Saturday, May 30 to enter your winning idea of what best represents Douglas County in May. We already have a few really wonderful entries, but May isn't over yet. Be sure to enter because you can't win if you haven't entered.

June 6 is Student-Senior Day back at the Gardnerville museum. At 11 a.m. only we will feature Bob Moore and Mike Murphy, two Pony Express Re-riders and members of the Douglas County Historical Society. Bob will have his horse Casey with him. Casey was born a wild mustang and has been prison trained. He is 5 years old and a veteran of the Pony Express re-rides.

This year's Pony Express Re-ride will be held on June 18 in front of the Genoa Courthouse Museum. As the time for the actual riders and mochila exchange can not be determined ahead of time, call 782-4325 for the latest time information.

June 17 and 18 are the dates for the annual Chautauqua in the Park at Mormon Station State Park in Genoa. This event is from 5-8 p.m. both evenings and is free to the public. Bring a picnic supper and enjoy the festivities.

Our swap meets start up again on June 20 and 27 at the Gardnerville museum. Call 782-2555 for both fees and more information.

For any questions, contact the Douglas County Historical Society at www.historicnevada.org or at the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center in Gardnerville at 782-2555. Remember, DCHS and its two museums in Gardnerville and Genoa don't receive any regular state or county funding. It's up to our members and friends to help us keep our doors open.

Contact Ellen Caywood at in2my2cats@yahoo.com or 790-1565.