History Presentation - Chalk It Up…Surreal Stories from the Silver State

From wartime mysteries to engineering marvels and hard hitting sports history, this 55 minute history program uncovers some of the most surprising and little known stories of western Nevada-including the strange arrival of Japanese fire balloons during World War II, the audacious effort to tap Lake Tahoe through an underwater drain, the era when Nevada stood as a national boxing powerhouse, and the poignant, often overlooked history of Reno’s first mental hospital—woven together by David and Gayle Woodruff in a fast moving, richly contextual journey through the region’s past.

This presentation will take place on September 6, 2026 from 1:00pm-2:15pm at Minden Mill Distilling. It’s free to attend, provided you have reserved a ticket. Tickets will become available starting August 18, 2026. Spots are very limited, so reserve your ticket early. You can find out more and get tickets to this and other events by going to Minden Mill’s official website and selecting “Book Your Visit,” then “Reservations,” or clicking here.