Press release

The celebration of Inyo County’s 150th birthday continues with the start of a speaker series sponsored by the Friends of the Eastern California Museum.  The “Friends” plan to put on a history presentation at least twice a month throughout Inyo County for the remainder of 2016 to help mark the important milestone of Inyo’s sesquicentennial.  The talks will be given by local historians and provide an informative and entertaining look back into the rich history of Inyo County.

David Woodruff

David Woodruff

On Friday April 15th, the “Friends” will kick off their speaker series with a program at the Western Film History Museum in Lone Pine titled “Into the Jaws of Hell”. Independence resident and Death Valley historian David Woodruff will talk about the incredible and true story of both bravery and tragedy, and how Argonauts and their families, headed to the California gold fields nearly met their mortal fate in the desolate desert area of eastern Inyo, and imparted the morbid epithet “Death Valley” upon it. The 50-minute program will be at the Western Film History Museum in Lone Pine at 7:00pm on Friday April 15th.

And for those wanting to know more about Death Valley and its deep history, the next day, Saturday April 16, Woodruff will be making another presentation combined with a book signing at the Inyo Free Library in Lone Pine.

Woodruff will talk about the History of Tourism in Death Valley, and how a company involved in mining a laundry soap additive got involved in the hotel and hospitality business in what appeared to be one of the most unlikely spots imaginable.  The Lone Pine library program will be from 1 to 3pm on Saturday April 16th.

Rob Pearce

Rob Pearce

And wait…there’s more! The following weekend on Friday April 22, Bishop resident, author, local historian and member of one of Inyo’s most distinguished pioneer families, Rob Pearce, will be offering a history presentation at the Bishop City Council Chambers at 7:00pm.  More information on Rob Pearce’s program will be coming soon.

It’s not every day that a County has the opportunity to mark a milestone as important as a 150th birthday.  The Inyo County Sesquicentennial Committee was created to encourage individuals, organizations and businesses to host events throughout the year to highlight the many historical and important aspects of Inyo County’s 150 years.  The Friends of the Eastern California Museum’s speaker series is just one of what is hoped will be several different events in 2016 honoring the history of Inyo County.

For more information on these upcoming programs, or to learn how you can help Inyo County celebrate its sesquicentennial during 2016 with your own event, you can call David at (760) 920-8061

 

 

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