Dennis Cassinelli, a Nevada historian and author, will offer a presentation on “Petroglyphs” and “The Dayton Petrified Forest” that Mark Twain wrote about in his book, Roughing It at the Thursday Night Presentations at the historic Gold Hill Hotel on Thursday, April 7.
Cassinelli, a former columnist for the Comstock Chronicle for many years, is an award-winning writer and historian, has written four books on Comstock history, as well as books on Native American artifacts and archaeology, which will be on sale during the event. His web site is www.denniscassinelli.com.
In addition to his writing, he has worked as a construction inspector and was a highway engineer for the Nevada Department of Transportation for 49 years.
His books include Preserving Traces of the Great Basin Indians, a Guidebook for identification of Great Basin Indian artifacts; and Legends of Spirit Cave, a prehistoric novel about the life and times of the mysterious Spirit Cave Man. This mummified man was discovered in a cave in the Grimes Point area east of Fallon, Nevada in 1940. In 1995, the remains were examined and determined to be nearly 10,000 years old.
A forensic reconstruction of his skull revealed the man was not related to any known American Indian tribe. In fact, the man most closely resembled Caucasians. Dennis tells a fascinating story about how this mysterious man may have lived and died in the Nevada desert of 10,000 years ago.
He is also the author of Chronicles of the Comstock, comprised of the first 100 articles he wrote as the History of the Comstock writer for Virginia City's Comstock Chronicle.
Cassinelli’s Gold Hill Presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 7. Dinner is from 4-8 p.m. at the Crown Point Restaurant at the Gold Hill Hotel with several fine-dining menu options offered.
The cost is $25 for the dinner and lecture and $10 for the lecture only.
The Gold Hill Hotel, the oldest hotel in Nevada, and its renowned Crown Point Restaurant, are located at 1540 Main Street, Gold Hill, just one mile south of Virginia City on SR 342.
For reservations, call the Gold Hill Hotel at 775-847-0111.
— March 31, Deke DiMarzo, a 30-year law enforcement officer who turned his interests and energies to history upon his retirement, will present “The Paiute Wars” and “Camels on the Comstock and Other Interesting Information.
— April 7 – Dennis Cassinelli – “Petroglyphs and the Dayton Petrified Forest”
— April 14 – James Lee Reeves – Comedian-musician
— April 21 – Bill Sjovangen – “Nevada Aviation History”
— April 28 - Ken Beaton - “Irish Archaeological Dig”
— May 5 – Deny Dotson, Virginia City Tourism Director “Premier of Eight New Videos on Virginia City.”
— May 12 – Sheriff Gerald Antinoro – Subject TBA.
— May 19 - Rob Slaby - “Education Here & Around The World”
— May 26 - Gus Fincel - “The 601 Vigilance Committee In Virginia City”