Coming up. Click on image for more information or to register.

Scroll down for full list of Kate Burke’s History Series and Other Presentations. I give these at various locations, from Durango to Paonia.
See Calendar for list of classes, shows, and other events.
Contact me if you would like to book a presentation.
*Designates Keynote speaker.

2024 Presentations
Taking  break. None until fall

Sept. Silverton’s fascinating history of mining & mayhem.
Oct. Dallas and Ridgway—both birthed by a railroad, and one buried by a dam.
Ouray’s historic newspaper battle(s).

Programs: January – December 2023

* Little Bighorn, the Back Story.
Learn what led up to the infamous battle, otherwise known as Custer’s Last Stand. Guest presenter George Gleason will share information about the monument today. Books and DVD published by San Juan Publishing for sale. Read Story Here.
Jan. 16.  1 pm.   Montrose Senior Center, Pavilion Drive.
Feb. 25, Noon. Brown  bag lunch, WHAFV, 4 Hillcrest Plaza Way

* History of Chocolate, America’s favorite treat.
Discover the origins and use of chocolate in Meso-America, and its romantic connection to Valentines in Europe and America. We will have chocolates and Valentines to share with everybody.
Chocolate, 5500 years of history, from Meso-America to present time. Read Story Here.
14.  1 pm.   Montrose Senior Center, Pavilion Drive.
20. Noon.   Montrose Woman’s Club, Lions Clubhouse. 602 N. Nevada Ave.

* Utah’s Colorful Parks & Monuments.
Each of the Parks and Monuments have a distinct personality. What they have in common is their geologic basis, some of it more than a billion years old!
Read Kate’s story about Utah Parks here.
Mar. 13.  1 pm.   Montrose Senior Center, Pavilion Drive.

* Time Banking Explained
What is it? How does it work? Why should you care? A unique look at a non-monetary economic system that honors time, talent, and community. Learn  about Time Dollars, Time Bank Credits, and Time Bank Exchanges—and all the benefits Time Banking has to offer.
Aug. 07.  1 pm.   Montrose Senior Center, Pavilion Drive.
Sept. 18. Noon.   Montrose Woman’s Club, Lions Clubhouse. 602 N. Nevada Ave.

* Gold! North America’s gold rushes.
Subtopic: Ouray’s Goldfields & Bachelor Syracuse Mine.

Kate Burke’s history series burrows into the history of  gold mining–following North American gold rushes from the 1540s in the Carolinas to the 1890s Klondike Rush in Alaska. Gold Rushes paired with the mountains, from the Appalachians  through the Rocky Mountains to the Coastal Mountains. Learn how Ouray’s Gold Hill and mines, including the Bachelor Syracuse saved the town of Ouray. [Read story here.]
Sep. 11. 1 pm.   Montrose Senior Center, Pavilion Drive.
Oct. 16. Noon.   Montrose Woman’s Club, Lions Clubhouse. 602 N. Nevada Ave.

* The Silverton Train and Red Mountain Mining District.
Kate Burke’s history series explores the Red Mountain Mining District and explains how the the narrow gauge Silverton Train navigated got there. Three engineering feats conquered seemingly impossible odds …7% grades, 30-degree curves, and passes over 11,000 feet so the trains could supply the mines, smelters, and mining communities. [Read story here.]
Oct. 23. 1 pm.   Montrose Senior Center, Pavilion Drive, Montrose
Dec. 6, 8 am. The Forum, Cascade Hall, Montrose

* Otto Mears Other NG Railroads to the Silverton Mining District
Kate Burke’s history series continues the saga of the 1880s narrow gauge trains that served the san Juan Mining District. Ride along with the Gladstone on the Silverton, Gladstone, and Northerly, and see how steam trains climbed over 11,000 feet to Animas Forks, one of the highest mining camps in North America. San Juan Mining District. [Read story here.]
Nov. 23. 1 pm. Montrose Senior Center, Pavilion Drive

Story links may not currently be active where we took down the related website.We have archived the stories, and will put them back here, on this site…as time (and inclination) permits.


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LIST OF PROGRAMS AND PRESENTATIONS.

Contact me if you would like to book me to give one of these presentations.

* Kate Burke’s Western History Series

Talks are 30-40 minutes with 5-10-minute introduction and 15-30 minutes Q&A time afterward. Presentations include Power Point, sometimes video Internet Youtube or weblinks. Related handouts. Presentations must be scheduled at least 30 days in advance, and I do charge a speakers fee.

American West

GoodTime Girl Gamblers

Little Bighorn, Contested Ground 

Little Bighorn, the Backstory & What Came After

Mountain Town Saloons & Shady Ladies 

Silverton’s Notorious Soiled Doves

San Juan’s Mining and NGRR History.

History of Ouray 

Bachelor Mine & Ouray’s Goldfields

History of Silverton

History of the Mountain West

Historic Opera Houses 

Narrow Gauge Railroads of SW Colorado

All Aboard! Durango & Silverton Railroad

The Silverton Train, Silverton to Ouray

Red Mountain Mining District & Rainbow Route

Silverton’s 4 Narrow Gauge Railroads to the Mines

Movies Made involving Western Colorado Narrow Gauge Railroads.

First Americans

Native American History Through Art & Artifacts 

Chocolate in Mesoamerica, a dark history. 

* Other Talks

Time Banking Explained

SW Colorado Farmers’ Markets. Date TBD.

Peace Parks in Africa 

Silent Voices of World War II (From Declaration to Signing the Peace Treaty)

History of Chocolate-from MesoAmerica to America’s Favorite Treat

* Travel Talks

Utah’s Colorful Parks 

Alaska from the Inland Passage

 History of Holidays

History of Chocolate-America’s Favorite Treat – Feb. 14, 2023

Halloween – Goblins & Ghosts

Thanksgiving – it began with oysters

Christmas – Customs around the world

Valentine History: Casanova, Cupid. Chocolate 

Celebrating Spring & Pagan Rituals

* Caregiving & Self Help

Mindful Gratitude Journaling – workshop format

The Caregiver’s Journey, Building Your Care Team

The Caregiver’s Journey, Navigating the Path.

Stress Management for Caregivers 

Is it Alzheimer’s or is it Lewy Body?