NHS Talks: On The GO! Sliding Bones

NHS Talks: On The GO! Sliding Bones

NHS Artown Talks - On The GO! Sliding Bones on the Historic Smith Creek Playa in Central Nevada

Every Saturday in July, we will feature two amazing History talks from 1:00-2:00 p.m. and 2:30-3:30 p.m. at our community partner's location. Our Artown talks are free to the public.

Learn about the mystery of the sliding bones on the Smith Creek Valley Playa, in central Nev., with guest speaker, Dr. George Baumgardner, Curator of Natural History, NSM, CC.

Smith Creek Valley Playa, in central Nevada, has been mentioned in western literature and stories since the mid-1800s. In July 2013, a much less historic event occurred when evidence of a unique type of movement by cattle bones across this playa was observed. Individual and articulated skeletal elements were found at the ends of shallow, furrow-like trails inscribed in the playa surface. These trails, with their skeletal material, are like the phenomenon described as “sailing rocks,” best documented from Racetrack Playa in Death Valley, California.

George received his BS and MS degrees from Texas A&M University and his Ph.D. from Memphis State University. Baumgardner studies habitats, flora, and fauna. He oversees the museum's collections of biological and geological specimens and assists with exhibits and educational programming.

Please note that the venue has 60 seats available; arrive early to secure your seat. We want to thank our community partner, Nevada Sunset Winery, for hosting this series while NHS is closed.