Let the Games Begin:

Sports and Recreation
in South Dakota

Thurday Evening Keynote
Speaker Announced

Robert Hanna is the interpretive coordinator at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan in Washburn, North Dakota, and has been active in museums and heritage interpretation since 2003. Robert's topic, Mandan Sports & Games, exemplifies his passion for promoting a sense of place on the Upper Great Plains.

The speaker at the Friday Awards luncheon is Humanities Scholar Jean Patrick, of Aberdeen. The Girl who Struck out Babe Ruth, is the true story of how 17-year-old Jackie Mitchell struck out not only Babe Ruth, but Lou Gehrig, for good measure. The chautaqua-style presentation will also include the wider context of the history of women in baseball, especially those in South Dakota and Iowa who played ball during the 1940s and 1950s.

Saturday's Westerners Breakfast speaker will be Dave Kemp of Sioux Falls. Dave has a deep and varied background in sports, Irish, Black and music history. As an archivist, exhibit coordinator, publisher and author Dave has participated in a number of South Dakota projects, including the current Deadwood Baseball Exhibit which will be on display at the conference.

Board Member Spotlight

Wayne Gilbert works for the Spearfish, South Dakota law firm of Brady Pluimer doing legal research and writing, and a good deal of his spare time is devoted to research in regional history. He is well-known in the Black Hills for his active participation in local theatrical productions. Between these two hobbies, he is usually preparing a historical paper or rehearsing a play, and often both. Now a resident of Belle Fourche, Wayne is a South Dakota Humanities Scholar and a member of the Board of Directors of the Black Hills Raptor Center. When he can, he tries to work in some hiking and backpacking in the Black Hills.

Conference Registration

Registrations received before September 28 will save $5 per person over onsite registrations. All meals orders must be made in advance.

This conference is made possible by:

An affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities

Deadwood Historic
Preservation

Black Hills Corral

Big Thunder Gold Mine, Keystone, SD
Barker Wilson Law Firm of Belle Fourche and Rapid City
Center for Western Studies, Augustana College, Sioux Falls
Cheyenne Crossing, Lead, SD
Chicken Creek Communication, Spearfish, SD
Keystone Historical Society
Minnilusa Historical Society, Rapid City, SD
Tri-State Museum, Belle Fourche, SD

Let the Games Begin: Sports and Recreation
in South Dakota

October 1-3, 2015

The 23rd annual West River History Conference will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Rapid City, SD. Make plans today to attend and learn more about your heritage.

Full Details

Conference Lineup

Thursday Evening: MANDAN SPORTS & GAMES - Robert Hanna

Friday Luncheon: THE GIRL WHO STRUCK OUT BABE RUTH

- Jean Patrick

Saturday Westerners Breakfast:

SOUTH DAKOTA SPORTS - Dave Kemp

West River History

Conference Board

Shebby Lee, President

Wayne Gilbert, VP/Sponshorships

Bobbi Sago, Sec/Publications

Diana Hayes, Treasurer

Marguerite Kleven, Exhibits

Carolyn Weber, Corresponding Secretary

Carol Saunders,Student Liaison

EMAIL US

WRHC Online

Quote of the Month

History is not static,

but living and breathing,

and open to interpretation.

Edwin S. Grosvenor
former Editor-in Chief
American Heritage Magazine

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Exhibitors and Booksellers Welcome

It's not too late for exhibitors and booksellers to reserve a table for Friday, Oct. 2. If you have a new book to sell, or especially an historical exhibit pertaining to this year's theme, please let us know! There is no charge for a table (or half table) - but are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. All participants must register for the conference. Request a table.