1864 saw the highest numbers of emigrants cross the Great Plains to escape the immense pressures of war, to seize the opportunity to find gold, or to start afresh. One family’s adventure has been preserved in a diary, now considered an American literary treasure. Come hear how the Rousseau family endured the journey with poison water holes, quicksand, robberies, the searing Mojave, and starvation on the snow-capped San Bernardino Mountains. Presented by Janelle Molony, local author and descendant of the Rousseau family. Q&A and book signing to follow.
Janelle Molony is a verifiable descendant of one of the surviving families. She is Chair of the Wyoming Historical Society’s Oral History Committee, host of the program “Women of Wyoming: Then & Now,” Trail history consultant for the Western Assoc. of Women Historians, and member of the Oregon-California Trail Association and Western Writers of American.
Visit Website: www.JanelleMolony.com
Registration requested but not required. Register at www.dfla.org or call the Library at 480-488-2286.
Cost: Free
The library makes every effort to ensure our programs can be enjoyed by all. If you have any concerns about accessibility or need to request specific accommodations, please contact the library.