Though a marriage with the performing arts, tour guide volunteers now have the opportunity to live, love, and share history in exciting new ways. The education program at the Nevada State Museum presents History as Performance, a free, four-day volunteer tour guide training program from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., September 18-19 and 25-26, 2007.

According to Curator of Education, Deborah Stevenson, “We are making history, right now, this very moment, and it is anything but boring. With the increasing number of guided tours being offered and requested, new tour guides are in demand.”

The training begins September 18, with some light theatrical instruction, using voice, gesture and timing to engage visitors of all ages. Michael Fischer, Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs, will present H. F. Dangberg, founder of Minden and cattle ranching baron. Also, meet William Morris Stewart, as interpreted by Robert Nylen, Curator of History. Nylen will then share the story of Abe Curry, founder of Carson City and the first superintendent of the Carson City Mint.

Wednesday morning’s training (September 19) includes a visit to the Marjorie Russell Clothing and Textile Center, where Curator, Jan Loverin, will present Fashion as History. Participants learn the “inside story” of Victorian fashion and view rare remnants of Comstock era clothing. Loverin will explain how the norms, values and standards of the time are reflected in dress. Discover how a person’s occupation, social status, and ethnic group may be revealed through dress.

After lunch, volunteers will take a tour of the Museum’s mine exhibit with Rachel Dolbier, Curator and geologist from the Keck Earth Science and Engineering Museum at the University of Nevada, Reno.

On Tuesday, September 25, D.D. LaPointe, Earth Science Education Coordinator for the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology and MacKay School of Mines at UNR, leads a journey of exploration of rocks and minerals. The afternoon allows plenty of time to practice fossil tours of the Ichthyosaur, Devonian and Mammoth exhibits. New additions to the education collection make this section fun and easy.

The Nevada State Museum is honored to welcome Donna Cossette, Registrar at the Churchill County Museum on Wednesday, September 26. Cossette served as Vice-Chair for the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe during the development of Under One Sky: Nevada’s Native American Heritage Exhibit. She offers the Native American perspective on the exhibit, which includes a walk through of all the displays.

Next, volunteers relax with the video Tah Gum: the Washoe Pine Nut Harvest. Then retired BLM archaeologist, Pat Barker presents Unraveling the Mysteries of Archaeological Excavation. Join in to learn the secrets uncovered through archaeological excavations in the Great Basin, including modern artifact dating methods.

Those who would like to register for the free tour guide training can contact Deborah at 775-687-4810, ext. 237 or dasteven@clan.lib.nv.us. No experience is necessary.

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