Museum gears up for gala

Happy Thanksgiving everybody. We at Douglas County Historical Society want to give thanks for all of you who support our museums. We love you and we thank you.

Make plans to be early and stay late at the historical society's Holiday Gala at the Gardnerville museum on Dec. 4. Read on and we'll tell you all about the great events, starting with free museum admission.

First there is the annual cookie walk. We make that first because those cookies always sell out fast. Seems everyone in town has found out that they don't have to bake dozens of cookies when they can just buy them at the cookie walk. Be there when the doors open for the best selection.

Santa and his sleigh will be on the museum's front porch for photos with your kids, grandkids or even Grandma and Grandpa if you like. Professional photographer Craig Marshall takes the photos while several elves prepare and deliver the final prints. You can order as many copies as you like. Photos are $5 each and make great Christmas gifts for relatives and close family friends.

Inside the museum you will have the opportunity to see all the beautifully decorated Christmas trees. Beside each tree will be a can into which you can put quarters to vote for your favorites. The winners, those that get the most money, will be announced right here after the holiday season is over. If you don't have quarters, feel free to vote with dollar bills. Your tree and your local museums benefit every time you vote.

Also inside will be gingerbread houses decorated by members of our community. This is a wonderful exhibit showcasing the creative talents of our young people as well as some of the older generations. There will be ballots so you can vote for your favorites.

The Main Street Bookstore will be open for holiday shopping. We're selling our 2010 historic collectible ornament as well as the 2011 DCHS calendar featuring your monthly winning photographs. A DCHS membership is a wonderful Christmas gift that gives all year long and supports your local museums. Another great Christmas gift is tickets to the 2011 melodrama "Rolling Down to Gardnerville," coming in February.

We're not done yet. Get your tickets for the drawing for the oil painting of "The Mustangs" by local artist Alice Cardelli Swett valued at $1,500. Tickets are $5 each or five for $20. The drawing will be held during the gala on Dec. 4. 

Information about the Douglas County Historical Society at www.historicnevada.org or 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 keep our doors open.

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