2025 Lecture Series
DCHS Heritage Lecture Series
Feb 13th | Dan Jardine | Speaking about the mining history of Douglas County and surrounding areas
March 13th | Etienne Lekumberry | Lecture regarding the Culture Heritage of the Basque Community
April 10th | Karen Dustman | Presentation about about Karen's 3 books series of Forgotten Tales of Carson Valley and Nearby Settlements
May 8th | Tami Force | Tami will share her journals and photography chronicling Nevada's history and outback.
June 12th | Alan Gubanich with Lahontan Audubon Society
July 10th | David & Gayle Woodruff | Scandalous Tales of Misdeeds, Misconduct and Transgressions
August 14th | Frank Tortorich | The Gold Rush Trial
September 11th | Wayne Scarpaci | The Iron Horse, Railroads of Nevada
October 9th | Sharon DeCarlo | Will James - famous Nevada Cowboy, Artist and Author
November 13th | Sandie Davis | Odd & Bizarre Christmas Traditions
Heritage Lecture Series
Thursday, October 9
Please join us as we welcome, Sandra DeCarlo from the Will James Society who will speak on the legacy of Cowboy Legend Will James, a writer and artist. Best known for his vivid depictions of the American West. Born Joseph Ernest Nephtali Dufault in Quebec, Canada, he later adopted the name Will James after moving to the U.S. and immersing himself in cowboy life. He worked as a ranch hand across the American West, gaining firsthand experience that deeply influenced his writing and art.
James gained fame with his 1926 book Smoky the Cowhorse, which won the Newbery Medal and remains a classic of Western literature. He wrote and illustrated over 20 books, blending gritty realism with romanticism. His dynamic drawings and storytelling captured the spirit of the cowboy era, preserving it for future generations.
Despite a troubled personal life and a hidden past, Will James left a lasting legacy as one of the most authentic voices of
the Western frontier
Doors Open at 6:00 p.m. Lecture Begins at 6:30 p.m. $5.00 at the door. Free Admission to Alpine, Dayton, Smith Valley, and DCHS Historical Society members. Don’t forget, each time you visit us for one of our Heritage Lecture Series in 2025 you earn a chance to win a $100 gift certificate from our bookstore. The more Heritage Lectures you attend, the greater your chances of winning! The drawing will be held on Thursday, November 14, 2025. Need not be present to win.
