Music, Chautauqua and local author at Dangberg

A concert by The Sierra Sweethearts, a Chautauqua of Laura D. Fair, and local author Gregory Crouch are featured as part of the Dangberg Summer Festival in June.

The Sierra Sweethearts will play a blend of bluegrass music spiced with humor 6:30–8 p.m. Thursday.

Thursday evening concert ticket prices are $20 for 17 years and older. Youth 16 years and younger are free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets can be purchased at the event. Members of Friends of Dangberg Home Ranch will receive discount pricing and should contact the park for more information. The gate opens at 5:30 pm.

Kim Harris will portray Laura D. Fair 10-11 a.m. June 21, who was the owner of Virginia City’s Tahoe House and a convicted murderess.

Four times married, twice widowed, and twice divorced all by the age of 33, Laura D. Fair was the first woman in California sentenced to hang for the murder of her lover, Alexander Parker Crittenden in November 1870. Arriving in Virginia City, Nevada Territory in 1863, Fair ran the newly built Tahoe House as an upscale boarding house where she met Crittenden. 

Her seven-year affair with Crittenden, and emotional ups and downs led to his murder, for which she was eventually acquitted.

All Friday morning Chautauquas are free for all to attend.

On Saturday, June 22, from 10:00-11:00 am,

“The Bonanza King” author Gregory Crouch, will discuss Comstock mining legend John Mackay 10-11 a.m. June 22.

Mackay got his start in the United States as a destitute Irish immigrant brought to New York City in 1840, when he was 9 years old. Mackay grew up in the notorious Five Points slum, came of age amid the violent mayhem of the California Gold Rush, and rose to the full power of his manhood in the dangerous mines of the Comstock Lode beneath Virginia City.

The extraordinary wealth John Mackay extracted from the Comstock Lode drove wild stock market frenzies in San Francisco, and launched his wife, Mary-Louise Mackay, on a meteoric social career among the finest European aristocrats. When John Mackay died in 1902, he was the fifth richest American.

In addition to The Bonanza King, Gregory Crouch is also the author of the true-life World War II flying adventure China’s Wings and the mountaineering memoir Enduring Patagonia. Crouch has published stories in The Atlantic, National Geographic, Smithsonian, Time, the Wall Street Journal, and a host of other national and regional media.

This event is free for all to attend.

“This is just the beginning of an exciting season of talent here at Dangberg Historic Park, where anyone can enjoy entertainment in our beautiful valley and mountain setting,” said Kim Harris, the park’s events manager.

Please bring your own seating and no pets allowed – certified service animals only. Guests are welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy as no food or beverages will be sold at these events. All events are held outdoors. For more information on these events, or on visiting Dangberg Historic Park, please visit Dangberg.org.

The Dangberg Summer Festival is sponsored by the generous support of Douglas County, Carson Valley Health, Horse Tales, TruNorth Wealth Management, Warren Reed Insurance, Cora J., Edward Jones Investments-Tim Cleveland, Barb and John Geibel, Holiday Inn Express and Suites, Central Sierra Construction, Christiansen Automotive of Gardnerville, Douglas Disposal & Recycling Service, Hone Company, Snowshoe Thompson Chapter 1827 E Clampus Vitus, and Frances C. and William P. Smallwood Foundation.