The Nevada Historical Society's building may be closed for an exciting remodel, but you can still enjoy their fascinating lectures at the Sierra View Library during their closure. NHS Nevada History - On The GO! Series is combining their three history programs that delve into Nevada History, Lake Tahoe, and the American Gaming Archives gambling and gaming history. Make sure to visit Sierra View Library on the first Saturday of every month to learn more about Nevada’s history through these engaging talks that are geared towards audiences of all ages.

Saturday, July 5, 2025

Speaker: David and Gayle Woodruff, historians

Title of Talk: Lake Tahoe’s Accidental Conservationists- George Whittell and his wife Elia – Chautauqua

Summary of Talk: Local authors and historians David and Gayle Woodruff re-enact the characters of one of the wealthiest couples on the West Coast during the 1920s through 1950s. They kept an African Lion for a pet, owned over 25 miles of Lake Tahoe waterfront, built one of the most beautiful estates on Lake Tahoe’s shore, hosted high-stakes poker games with the rich and famous, and unintentionally conserved a large portion of Lake Tahoe lands for the public to enjoy today.

Speaker Bio: David and Gayle Woodruff offer history programs throughout Lake Tahoe, the Carson Valley, and Eastern Sierra covering several topics that bring their characters to life in a Chautauqua performance. The Woodruffs have written a three-book series about Highway 395 called El Camino Sierra and a book on the Furnace Creek Resort. With a love of history, a deep fondness for their natural surroundings, and a passion for all things 395, the two spend their time exploring, enjoying, and writing about their beloved Eastern Sierra.