Programs: Spring 2025

May 5th. George Armstrong Custer and the Battle at the Little Bighorn
1 pm. Montrose Senior Center, Montrose Pavilion. With Kate Burke.George Armstrong Custer was a dichotomy. Hero or villain? The mere mention of his name was, and still is, enough to incite accusatory hatred or passionate defense. What choices did he make (and why?) that ultimately cost him and the 7th Calvary their lives on the Little Bighorn Battlefield. With Kate Burke, publisher of books written about the battle by the Monument’s Interpretive rangers. Copies of the books and live-action DVDs of the author’s battle story and reenactment will be available at the PPT presentation.

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.

Programs: September – December 2024

Nov. 18th. Silverton: Mining, Madams, and Mayhem.
1 pm. Montrose Senior Center, Montrose Pavilion.With Kate Burke. A roaring red-light district was the main source of entertainment and the economic engine that fueled the town’s insatiable growth. And like our times, immigration, misogyny, and labor disputes caused sometimes violent conflict.
PPT presentation includes handouts.

Nov. 6th. Grand Valley Agriculture, 1895-1915
7 pm. Montrose Event Center (Fairgrounds) With Joe Zeni.
Hosted by Montrose Historical Society.
Joe Zeni is the author of Promise, Published by San Juan Publishing.
[Read Story here.]

Oct. 7th. WWI Ambulance Service in the Balkans.
1 pm. Montrose Senior Center, Montrose Pavilion.With Joe Zeni. American volunteers risked their lives to save soldiers and help civilians in the Great War.
PPT presentation with excerpts from his new book, Promise, by author and historian, Joe Zeni. Published by San Juan Publishing.

Sept. 16th Whoopin’ it up in Junction!
1 pm. Montrose Senior Center, Montrose Pavilion. With Joe Zeni. Grand Junction was a popular destination in the early 1900s for exciting entertainment that drew thousands of attendees (most coming by trains) from around the area. Circus, Vaudeville, wrestling, races, aerial extravaganzas, and more.
PPT presentation with excerpts from his new book, Promise, by author and historian, Joe Zeni. Published by San Juan Publishing.

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 story 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.

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