Today's adventures found us in our neighboring state of Nevada.

Our first stop was to explore a casino. Since the Hard Rock is our newest, I just had to share it with Laurie.
What kid, of a certain age, didn't create something from a Tandy Leather kit? One such kid was Buddy Holly. Turns out the guy was an incredible craftsman and some of his works are on display here. I love the fact that the Hard Rock is a musician's museum. So fun to explore, with the exhibits changing frequently enough that I keep wanting to come back!
Oh man, totally loved the Monkees. I'm a believer for sure.

For those who don't know, the Hard Rock was originally Del Webb's Sahara and was one of Elvis Presley's favorite places to perform. How perfect that there is an exhibit on The King's style.
In the beginning, the offerings at Lansky Bros. (1946) contrasted starkly to the clean cut and traditional styles popular with mid-century Americans. Lansky Bros. featured colorful window displays with bright colors and flashy designs that were intended to pop onstage. This, of course, was precisely what would catch the attention of a young Elvis Presley in 1952. However, it wasn’t just Elvis Presley who was mesmerized by the glitz and glamour of Lansky Bros.’ stage clothing. Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis were all shopping at Lansky Bros. in the fifties and sixties.  
Lunch was clam chowder at the Oyster Bar. This $8 dish has always been consistently delicious here.
When in Nevada, one should always visit its oldest settlement- Genoa.
And no trip to Genoa is complete without a drink at its Oldest Thirst Parlor- the Genoa Bar (1853).
One of my favorite 'off the hill' places is the historic Dangberg Home Ranch. The house that stands here was built by a family that played an important role in the growth and shaping of Carson Valley, Nevada. Heinrich Friedrich Dangberg was only eighteen when he came to America in 1848. He came west in 1856, where he built a log cabin, cleared and irrigated his landclaim, and married Margaret Ferris, the daughter of a noted American family. A self-made man, his hard work, foresight and leadership lead to prosperity and influence. The cabin grew into a house as he and Maggie raised five children, who inherited one of the largest ranches in western Nevada. In 1902, the family formed the Dangberg Land and Livestock Co. and over the next few decades the second generation expanded the family’s holdings to almost 50,000 acres supporting cattle and sheep production, along with vegetable crops and other products. In 1905, the family founded the town of Minden and there, in partnership with other ranchers, established several businesses focused on agriculture, banking and a hotel. Today, the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park preserves this essential chapter in Nevada’s history.
It is an extra fun place to visit when there is an event occurring. Tonight's was a fundraiser featuring Buffalo Bill's Wild West Legendary Figures of the Old West.
For me, when I had a day in which I learn something new, I'm pretty content. Today was a day full of knowledge gaining. Did you know that the Ferris Wheel was created originally as the American answer to the Eiffel Tower? Oh, and that its inventor was a Dangberg?
In 1890, the plans for the World’s Colombian Exposition in Chicago were taking shape, yet there was a void. The planners needed to come up with “something novel, original, daring and unique.” George Washington Gale Ferris Jr., a 33-year-old engineer, was struck by a brainstorm and quickly sketched a huge revolving steel wheel. Long story, short, Ferris had been challenged to think big- the huge attendance expected at the fair inspired him to bet big and he won the bet. His wheel measured 250 feet in diameter, and carried 36 cars, each capable of holding 60 people. It was a huge success. Over the next 19 weeks, more than 1.4 million people paid 50 cents for a 20-minute ride and access to an aerial panorama few had ever beheld. “It is an indescribable sensation,” wrote a reporter, “that of revolving through such a vast orbit in a bird cage.” Mr. Ferris' story, afterward, wasn't as successful but I'll end on a 'high' note.
The list of historical characters we met was extensive. Here's Laurie with Buffalo Bill (the star of the show).
We even hung out with George's mom, Martha Ferris.


This woman was new to me and I liked her a lot. Carlotta J. Thompkins, also known as Lottie Deno (April 21, 1844 – February 9, 1934), was a famous gambler during the 19th century, known for her poker skills as well as her courage. She was born in Kentucky and traveled a great deal in her early adulthood before coming to Texas. Much of her earlier life, and even her real name at birth, are a matter of debate among historians, but her fame as a poker player in the Southwest is not. According to author Johnny Hughes, "In the late 1800s Texas' most famous poker player was Lottie Deno (a shortened form of 'dinero' - Spanish for money).
When introduced, it was said of Charlie Siringo, "I don't know why this guy isn't as well known as the Earps. It must be his PR because he was amazing!" In 1886, bored with the mundane life of a merchant, Siringo moved to Chicago, where first-hand observation of the city’s labor conflict moved him to join the Pinkerton Detective Agency. With 2,000 active agents and 30,000 reserves, the forces of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency were larger than the nation’s standing army in the late 19th century. The Pinkertons provided services for management in labor disputes, including armed guards and secret operatives like Charles A. Siringo. He was immediately assigned several cases, which took him as far north as Alaska and as far south as Mexico City. He began operating undercover, a relatively new technique at the time, and infiltrated gangs of robbers and rustlers, making more than 100 arrests. This guy was cool. He was an author as well, his books are on my 'to read' list.
Kim Harris (a favorite of mine) played Calamity Jane with zest and authenticity.

What good Wild West show doesn't end with a guy dead on the ground with a bottle of whiskey by his side?
I loved Krista Jenkins' voice. She is a yodeler and a fourth generation Nevadan. Her music brings together the beauty and difficulty of rural life, along with the universal feelings of love, loss, joy and sadness that we all experience. She is a gifted singer and songwriter and her music is uplifting and thought-provoking.
Dinner, by Carson City BBQ was Pork Ribs, Chicken, Potato Salad, Caesar Salad, BBQ Beans, BBQ Sauce, Rolls & Butter...Finger licking good indeed.

Wanting to share some of our local history with Laurie, we headed to the Hellman-Erhman Mansion.

In 1897, San Francisco businessman I. W. Hellman began buying property at Sugar Pine Point and by 1913 had acquired nearly 2000 acres. His grand but informal summer home, called Pine Lodge, was completed in 1903 and was considered to be one of the finest in the high Sierra.
The building site was originally a sand hill. Tons of topsoil were brought from the back country to provide the base for lawns and gardens. Most of the building materials for the house were obtained locally,
The house, designed by Walter Danforth Bliss, was equipped with the best and most modern utility systems including electric lights and complete indoor plumbing. Steam generators produced electricity until commercial power was available in 1927. Water was obtained from General Creek and later pumped directly from the Lake. The mansion's dining room walls are covered with strips of woven redwood, creating a warm, natural and very unique look. Authentic chandeliers, leaded glass cabinets, and hardwood floors grace the house which is decorated in 1930's period furniture. 
Hellman had immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1859. He moved to San Francisco from Los Angeles when he purchased the Nevada Bank. This bank eventually merged with Wells Fargo and Hellman served as President. Upon Hellman's death in 1920, his youngest daughter Florence Ehrman inherited the Pine Lodge and it gradually became known as the Ehrman Mansion.




Outlying buildings include a caretaker's cottage by the lake, the children's house by the tennis court, maids' quarters, butler’s cabin, ice house, coach house, power house, a dressing room, a pump house, two boat houses, and the boatman’s cabin. The Ehrmans owned two boats, Comet and Cherokee.

This is a view of the home from its dock. Spectacular.
Located in the carriage house, the exhibit of "A glimpse of days gone by" was an exceptional way for us to learn even more about the local history.

I love when I learn something new. I had never heard of the Wishbone Highway. Construction of the scenic Wishbone Highway began in the 1890s with the labor of Chinese immigrants. They used picks and shovels, dynamite, mule-drawn Fresno scrapers and steam powered shovels to build the road. The last section of roadway constructed was a 200-foot section known as the Cave Rock tunnel that was blasted through in the 1940s.

The completion of Wishbone Highway began the era of the automobile as the primary form of transformation around Lake Tahoe. By the 1940s traffic accidents increased to the point that local residents called for the first stop signs and road markings. Today over 11 million vehicles travel the historic highway each year.
During the 1960 Winter Olympics, this was the location of the cross-country skiing events. Many of those historic trails still survive.

And as we were leaving, my spirit bear appeared just for Laurie's amusement. So very, very cool.
We ended our day in the Minden Park for the last concert of their Summer Season.
The usual suspects gathered for Savannah Blue. This band has been a popular fixture on the Northern California blues and rock club scene for many years as well as more recent success bringing Southern Rock to a growing number California and Nevada festivals.
Not only do they play the music of Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers, they presented music from the entire genre. Great rocking with great friends.

Our next house guest wasn't due to arrive until 1 PM so Steve and I played tourist in Sacramento, briefly.

I have been wanting to visit the Museum of Medical History of the Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society for quite some time. Its curator, Robert LaPerriere, MD, did a presentation for our Historical Society and I missed it.
This amazing space showcases developments in medicine with a special relationship to the Sacramento region, from the mid-1800s through today. It is one of only a handful of places with a working iron lung. We learned so much about this life saving and still used contraption (believe it or not). Wow.

The Museum is organized by various themes: patent medicines and pharmacology, basic science and laboratory medicine, antibiotics and infectious diseases, medical diagnosis and therapy, surgical diagnosis and therapy, nursing, Asian medicine, radiology, quackery and local medical history.


A variety of larger artifacts are also displayed, including examination tables, a 1920-era x-ray machine, wheelchairs, nurses uniforms, a doctor’s office cabinet, skeleton, Civil War amputation kits, live leeches, and a variety of medical art.


We were pretty intrigued and a little grossed out by the array of classical 19th century instruments including cups, various tools for bleeding, ether masks and medicines with mercury, arsenic and strychnine.
This incredible, 'must visit' museum is free of charge and open to the public Monday-Friday, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, except for holidays. It will be closed for renovation for the entire month of September, which means I'm going back to it again.
 We returned to SMF to gather Laurie for five days of Tahoe fun.
After grocery shopping and unpacking, we headed to Lakeview Commons for the Thursday night concert series. Nothing says HOME like rocking out with friends, lakeside.
The evening's entertainment was Caitlin Jemma + the Goodness.
According to her website, Caitlin "is a singer-songwriter on the rise. Marked by country and delivered with soul, her songs are love notes offering encouragement to be your baddest self—in the pursuit of magic, adventure, and discovery."
Our pursuit of magic was attained today. Life truly is an adventure. Here's to more discoveries.