Author to host lecture, book signing

Roger E. Herst, author and historian, shares his mesmerizing tale in a lecture and book signing for Destiny's Children: A Saga of Early California at the Nevada State Museum at

7 p.m. on Jan. 27.

Herst opens his saga with a story about childhood memories of post-war Nevada and California.

With his father he would tramp over the eastern escarpment of the Sierra Nevada as these mountains cascaded into the Nevada flatlands.

He would watch Southern Pacific trains snake along the hillsides and wonder about the men and women, like his own ancestors, who in the 1850s and 1860s, came west seeking their fortunes in the railroad.

"Using his gift for passionate storytelling, Herst will present his original work of historical fiction," said curator of education Deborah Stevenson. "He brings the parallel histories of Nevada and California to life through a vivid portrayal of individuals who seek their fortune in the West."

According to Herst, "the discussion will touch on the history of the Transcontinental Railroad, the fierce discrimination against the Chinese, and the role of women in the West."

In his book and presentation, Herst weaves fact with fiction, telling tales of characters both real and imaginary.

Regular admission fees apply.

Doors open at 6 p.m. for exhibit viewing in the main building.

For more information, contact Curator of Education Deborah Stevenson at

687-4810 ext. 237.