Chautauquan portrays Dangberg matriarch

Chautauquan Kim Harris closes out the 2024 Summer Festival Season with a portrayal of matriarch Margaret Ferris Dangberg at Dangberg Historic Park.

This Chautauqua presentation is 10 a.m. Sept. 13 and is free for all to attend.

Dangberg, known to family and friends as “Maggie,” was the wife of H.F. Dangberg Sr. and eldest surviving daughter of George Washington Gale Ferris Sr. and his wife Martha Hyde Ferris. She was also the eldest sister of George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. who invented the famous Ferris Wheel for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

Maggie Ferris; daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother, was a beautiful young woman of 16 years when she met her future husband, a wealthy Carson Valley rancher. Together they raised five children and expanded the Dangberg Ranch to become the Dangberg Land & Livestock Company in 1902. However, she never forgot her roots as a member of the pioneering Ferris family, which gave her the adventurous spirit she was known for throughout her life.

Harris is an accomplished Chautauquan with more than 15 years’ experience, having presented local and national historical characters, from California to Bronxville, New York. She is the owner of Western History ALIVE! where she presents the lives of many famous and infamous historical figures.

"We've had a busy and exciting event season, and it is an honor to end it with a portrayal of a dynamic Dangberg family member," said Harris, who is also the park's events manager.

Visitors should bring their own seating but leave their pets home. Only certified service animals are allowed. 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.

Visit Dangberg.org for more information on these events, or on visiting Dangberg Historic Park.