Nevada History: On The GO! – John “Snowshoe” Thompson and Agnes Thompson Chautauqua (Off-site, SVL)

David and Gayle Woodruff March 6, 2027, 1 – 2:30 pm Title of Program: John “Snowshoe” Thompson and Agnes Thompson Chautauqua performance Speaker: David & Gayle Woodruff, local historians and authors Summary of Program: John “Snowshoe” Thompson stands at the center of this Chautauqua presentation, bringing to life the grit, generosity, and sheer endurance that made him the Sierra Nevada’s most beloved winter hero, while his wife Agnes appears as a steady, grounding presence whose quiet support framed the world he returned to after each perilous crossing. Through stories of his legendary mail runs over the mountains, his service to isolated communities, and the human moments that shaped his life beyond the snowfields, local historians David & Gayle Woodruff offer a warm, engaging portrait of a man and woman whose strength and spirit touched the lives of all who knew them. A special program to honor the 200th anniversary of Thompson’s birth in April 1827. Speaker Bio: David and Gayle Woodruff offer history programs throughout Lake Tahoe, the Carson Valley, and the Eastern Sierra, often bringing their characters to life in Chautauqua performances. The Woodruffs have written a series of three books about Highway 395 called Tales Along El Camino Sierra, and a book on the Furnace Creek Resort called Magnificent Oasis. We would like to thank our community partner, the Washoe County Library System and the Sierra View Library, for hosting our off-site lectures. Sierra View Library has been serving communities from Midtown to South Reno since 1987. Located inside the Reno Town Mall, directly across from the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, the library has two entrances. The front entrance allows visitors to stroll by shops and businesses in the mall, while the second entrance is accessible from the rear, south side of the mall. This back entrance has an ADA accessible lift. The address is 4001 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89502.