NHS Artown Talks – On The GO! at Nevada Sunset Winery, Sat. July 18

NHS Artown Talks – On The GO!

Program Schedule
Saturday, July 18, 2026

Discover this year’s NHS Artown – On the GO! talks.

The Nevada Historical Society’s building may be closed for an exciting remodel, but you can still enjoy these fascinating lectures at the Nevada Sunset Winery during the closure.

NHS Artown Talks – On The GO! Series is their Artown summer program that delves into Nevada and Reno history. Make sure to visit Nevada Sunset Winery every Saturday in July to spark your interest in the captivating past of Reno and Nevada with eight engaging programs that are geared towards audiences of all ages. A FREE Artown event!

Finding Wild Nevada Book

1-2 PM: 

Finding Nevada Wild: Stories of the Terrain, Culture, and People of the Most Mysterious State in the West book.

Presented by Sydney Martinez, author and photographer

Learn about the hidden gems in the State of Nevada with guest speaker Sydney Martinez, photographer and author.

Offering an entry point to understanding the landscapes, culture, and people of Nevada, this inspiring and personal ode to the Silver State takes curious adventurers off the grid to experience a version of the state few people truly know.

Sydney Martinez, author and photographer

When many people think of Nevada, they think of Las Vegas, Area 51, and an unending, empty desert—but there’s a lot more to the Great Basin State than that. Author and dedicated Nevada aficionado Sydney Martinez has devoted many years to exploring the ultra-rural wonders of Nevada, and in Finding Nevada Wild, she helps fellow adventurers get to know an often-misunderstood state.

Written from the perspective of someone who has researched, visited, and experienced many of Nevada’s defining places, Finding Nevada Wild features chapters devoted to various interests and activities. Vivid photography accompanies personal stories and practical guidance to show why Nevada should be at the top of everyone’s must-experience list,

Finding Nevada Wild helps readers to discover the true essence of the Silver State.

Sydney Martinez has professionally written about and photographed Nevada for nearly 20 years, devoting her life to discovering everything there is to know about the state. She earned journalism and photography degrees at the University of Nevada and now focuses on developing her own brand, Finding Nevada Wild, while pursuing turquoise silversmithing under Song Dog Silver. She lives in Reno, Nevada

Sailing Bone on the Playa

2:30 – 3:30 PM:

Sliding Bones on Historic Smith Creek Playa in Central Nevada

Presented by George D. Baumgardner, Ph.D., Curator of Natural History, NSM-CC

Learn about the mystery of the sliding bones on the Smith Creek Valley Playa, in central Nev., with guest speaker, Dr. George Baumgardner, Curator of Natural History, NSM, CC.

Smith Creek Valley Playa, in central Nevada, USA has been mentioned in western literature and stories since the mid-1800s. It was first described by Captain J. H. Simpson of the U.S. Army Corps of Topographical Engineers in his 1859 chronicle of the expedition he led to survey a route from Floyd, Utah to Genoa, Nevada. It was later mentioned by English explorer Sir Francis Burton in his 1862 description of his journey by stagecoach to the western United States and has had the historic routes of the Overland Trail, Pony Express, and intercontinental telegraph line pass over its surface. It even served as the site for an amusing story about the only time renown pilots Chuck Yeager and Neil Armstrong flew together.

In July 2013, a much less historic event occurred when evidence of a unique type of movement by cattle bones across this playa was observed. Individual and articulated skeletal elements were found at the ends of shallow, furrow-like trails inscribed in the playa surface. These trails, with their skeletal material, are like the phenomenon described as “racing” or “sailing rocks” best documented from Racetrack Playa in Death Valley, California, USA. As was demonstrated for the rocks of Racetrack Playa, the material here was probably moved by a combination of wind acting on ice floating on liquid water.

Dr. George Baumgardner with a kangaroo mouse

George received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Texas A& M University and his Ph.D. from Memphis State University (now University of Memphis). His education and expertise relate to the biology of small/medium size mammals, reptiles, & birds; public education regarding these subjects; and museum care for natural history specimens. As of 2026, he has over 50 years’ experience working in biological collections and museums. Since taking his current position in 1998, he has studied the habitats, flora, and fauna of western North America (primarily Nevada). His responsibilities at the Nevada State Museum, Carson City include overseeing the museum’s collections of biological and geological specimens and assisting in the preparation of exhibits and educational programming on these subjects.

We would like to thank our community partner, Nevada Sunset Winery for hosting our lecture series. Nevada Sunset Winery is located at 415 East 4th Street, Unit B, Reno, NV 89512. Make sure to get your Artown Passport checked!