Press Releases

SACRAMENTO PRO BASEBALL, BASKETBALL, TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD, MILITARY AND RICH WATERSHEDS HIGHLIGHT HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S BIG DAY OF GIVING HISTORY-A-THON LINEUP​

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April 23, 2021

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SACRAMENTO, CA – Sacramento’s rich professional sports history, its starring role in the Transcontinental Railroad, the US Military, Agriculture and Watershed prowess are part of a robust lineup of events during the Sacramento Historical Society’s first History-A Thon during Big Day of Giving on May 6, 2021. Starting at 10 am, SHS will feature a new history topic at the top of every hour, right after a five-minute open Q&A with the public. The program will be broadcast via Zoom.

The May 6 History-A-Thon is open to the public at this link.  

Following is the May 6 lineup:

10 AM – Author Marshall Garvey presents Sacramento’s baseball history, from the mid-19th century to our beloved River Cats. From the man who wrote the book The Hidden History of Sacramento Baseball.

11 AM – Gregg Lukenbill presents the dynamic journey of the NBA Kings to Sacramento from the man who brought the team here from Kansas City. Lukenbill will explore naming rights, the season ticket waiting list, temporary ARCO Arena and the late NBA Commissioner David Stern.

Noon – 2 PM – As seen on KVIE, filmmaker and SHS president Bill George presents his two award-winning railroad films on the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. The films follow in the footsteps of the great people who defied the odds and led the way to the greatest achievement of the 19th Century – and Sacramento played a starring role. Then at 1 pm, George presents Beyond a Miracle: California’s Empire of Agriculture, which tells the dynamic story of the agricultural pioneers who shaped the state’s farm heritage. Wrapping up the triple matinee is Chinese Builders of Gold Mountain, which gives viewers a front row seat at places where Chinese pioneers built temples, stores, levees and were instrumental in the construction of railroads. 

3 PM – George presents Gold in the American River, for a look at a little-known aspect of the California Gold Rush. Did you know California produced its own gold coinage? 

4 PM – Island in the Stream, presented by Gregg Lukenbill. At the junction of the largest watershed volume in America, the ‘Great Valley’ was Sacramento’s 1848 original grid location. Sutter’s Lake, China Slough, Brighton and the Freeport Railroad helped shape the modern city. And, Lukenbill takes viewers through our earliest flooding and its foretelling of historic consequences.

5 PM – Sacramento’s Military History, presented by Sgt.-Major Dan Sebby. As Chief Curator and NCO in Charge of the Museum Support Unit at California’s Military Department, Sebby explores the region’s rich military history influence in defending the nation, from pre-World War I through the present day. 

6PM – Reputation of Pandemics. Presented by Christina Richter drills down into the history of pandemics and its effect on the Sacramento area. Did you know we’re in our 5th pandemic in 100 years?

7PM – Medicine and the Gold Rush Era. Experience the medical challenges of those coming out for the Gold Rush and the evolution of medicine through the early 20th Century, presented by resident medical historian, Dr. Bob LaPerrie.   

 “We make history fun.  Our presentations are enjoyable and exciting, and we bring people together in a spirit of conviviality,” said George. “That explains the dramatic membership increase we’ve had in the past few years.  Here’s your chance to sample who we are and what we do. Come along for the ride, you’ll love it!”

About SHS

The Sacramento Historical Society was originally formed in August of 1941. Once the war years were over and our area settled into a more normal way of life, the society reformed in 1953 and incorporated as a non-profit organization. The organization was formed to accomplish four objectives:

• To preserve the historical heritage of the Sacramento region.

• To promote a greater awareness of our region’s history.

• To act as a resource for inquiries regarding local history.

• To educate the public with regard to the importance of Sacramento’s history.

In the spirit of these objectives, SHS aspires to share our regional heritage from the classroom to the boardroom. Additional information about all SHS programs can be found on our website.

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SACRAMENTO HISTORICAL SOCIETY FEATURES FREE HISTORY-A-THON 

FOR BIG DAY OF GIVING MAY 6

April 16, 2021                                                                                      

SACRAMENTO, CA – Join us online as the Sacramento Historical Society (SHS) hosts its first History-A-Thon to highlight the Big Day of Giving on May 6, 2021. Starting at 10 am, SHS will feature a new history topic at the top of every hour, right after a five-minute open Q&A with the public. The program will be broadcast via Zoom.

Topics to be explored:  Sports history of the Sacramento area, including the Sacramento Kings, award winning video presentations by filmmaker and SHS president Bill George on the Transcontinental  Railroad, California’s agriculture prowess and the region’s rich Chinese history. Also included will be presentations on the Gold Rush and how Sacramento grew into the city it is today.

Especially fun will be the top-of-the-hour five-minute Q&A where the audience can either email or call in any history question they want. Our board of directors will do their best to answer any and all questions!

“We make history fun.  Our presentations are enjoyable and exciting, and we bring people together in a spirit of conviviality,” said George. “That explains the dramatic membership increase we’ve had in the past few years.  Here’s your chance to sample who we are and what we do. Come along for the ride, you’ll love it!”

The Historical Society’s BDOG lineup also includes Marshall Garvey, author of the book The Hidden History of Sacramento Baseball; and, Gregg Lukenbill, who will provide his perspective on bringing the Sacramento Kings here from Kansas City. SHS president and filmmaker Bill George will provide insights and commentary between broadcasts of his two award winning Transcontinental Railroad films, along with Chinese Builders of Gold Mountain, Empire of Agriculture and Newcastle – Gem of the Foothills. In addition, SHS board member Christina Richter, recent recipient of the History Enlightenment Award, will do a presentation on the history of Pandemics, and, Sgt. Major Daniel Sebby is slated to introduce a segment on Sacramento’s heralded and unique Military history. Sgt. Major Sebby is Chief Curator & NCO in Charge of the Museum Support Unit for the CA Military Department. Other presentations will be announced next week.

About SHS

The Sacramento Historical Society was originally formed in August of 1941. Once the war years were over and our area settled into a more normal way of life, the society reformed in 1953 and incorporated as a non-profit organization. The organization was formed to accomplish four objectives:

• To preserve the historical heritage of the Sacramento region.

• To promote a greater awareness of our region’s history.

• To act as a resource for inquiries regarding local history.

• To educate the public with regard to the importance of Sacramento’s history.

In the spirit of these objectives, SHS aspires to share our regional heritage from the classroom to the boardroom.

The SHS History-A-Thon will be free and available to the public via an online Zoom link that can be shared. It will be posted to our Facebook page as well as the SHS website.