Situated between the snow-capped Rocky Mountains and vast farmlands and prairies, Greeley epitomizes the American West, rich in tradition and heritage. It was here that alumnus and former faculty member James Michener was inspired to write Centennial, and the library, bearing his name, is accumulating his archives. Field trips to the Rocky Mountains and Centennial Village feature scenic beauty, architecture, and lifestyles in the high plains between 1860 and 1920. In Greeley, the climate is dry, the days are sunny, and the nights are cool. Enjoy campus and restaurant dining and motel lodging with air-conditioned rooms, private baths, indoor pool and whirlpool.

June 1-6, 2008 - James A. Michener: The Man, His Life, His Work, And His Legacy

Through the eyes of his friends and scholars, his archives and field trips, study James A. Michener*s life and the themes in his writing. Discover the ethnic riches in his western research for Centennial. On a field trip to the high plains and piedmont of northeastern Colorado, you will see how Michener skillfully connected history and geography in writing this story, which brought Hollywood to the grasslands of Colorado in 1978. Explore genealogy as Michener did in researching characters for his novels. From the James A. Michener Special Collection, view unpublished photos, film clips, manuscripts and journal pages to reveal the man, his passions and politics, and sense the impact of his legacy.

For more information you may refer to the Michener Society's official website, which is...

http://webpages.charter.net/boerad/michener.htm

or to the Centennial Village Museum in Greeley (selected photos below) at the following website...

http://www.greeleygov.com/Museums/CentennialVillage.aspx

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High Plains Chautauqua; August 5 - 9, 2008; The American Spirit: Practical Dreamers

For five days each August, audiences step back in time as High Plains Chautauqua (HPC) recreates the turn-of-the-century traveling tent Chautauqua that brought education and entertainment to communities in the form of lectures, concerts, and plays.  HPC is continuing its three-year series on the "American identity," bringing to the Chautauqua tent historic characters who demonstrate uniquely American traits. In 2007, the first year of “The American Spirit,” HPC focused on the colonial and Revolutionary War period, when colonists began to see themselves as Americans rather than as English. The theme of August 5-9, 2008 HPC, “The American Spirit: Practical Dreamers,” will feature nineteenth-century Americans, who created the American dream and the American myth. The way that they dreamed, in their own pragmatic way, and put those dreams into effect, created what it means to be an American. Scholar/actors will bring these practical dreamers, utopians, reformers, entrepreneurs, inventors and rugged individualists to life each evening under the Chautauqua tent. 

Tuesday, August 5

P.T. Barnum exemplified key American traits such as enterprise and energy, and his amazing rise from poverty to wealth was the consummate American “rags to riches” story. His belief in democracy made him an ardent patriot and forced him into politics, where he was an early voice for the enfranchisement of blacks and women’s equality. 

Wednesday, August 6

Frances E.W. Harper was the first and the best known of the 19^th century African-American protest poets, who used their verses to advance equality. She was frequently the only representative of color in the leading women’s organizations.  “A woman of strong personality,” there was nothing demure about her politics.

Horace Greeley’s editorials in the New York Tribune, addressed such political and social issues as utopian reform, temperance, education, agrarian collectivism, women’s rights, and slavery. Greeley also promoted the Homestead Act, a transcontinental railroad, land-grant colleges, protective tariffs, tough bankruptcy laws, and a national bank.

Thursday, August 7

One of America’s earliest and greatest environmentalist prophets, Henry David Thoreau was an incisive critic of materialistic pursuits. His essay “Civil Disobedience” urged the reader to follow his conscience rather than the law when he is convinced that the law is unjust. His justification of civil-disobedience reflects the American conundrum: how far individual rights may go against majority rule.

The undisputed leader of the woman suffrage movement, Susan B. Anthony had one goal: to achieve woman suffrage and through it the political and social equality of women. Ever the pragmatic strategist, she temporarily suspended her advocacy for black women in order to secure the support of Southerners for “the cause.”

Friday, August 8         

Zikala-Sa returned from three years of missionary schooling with ambivalence toward her identity as a Yankton Sioux, “neither a wild Indian, nor a tame one.”  Her writings reflect the dichotomy between assimilating and preserving Indian traditions, as Indians struggled to find their place in this new country.

Thomas Alva Edison’s inventions changed the lives of every American. He embodied America’s “can do” attitude as he overcame many failures to give America light, recorded music, and motion pictures. 

Saturday, August 9

Mark Twain's humor allowed us to laugh at human nature and at ourselves as Americans.  Through his social commentary and his constant deriding of shams, frauds and humbugs, Twain became the conscience of nineteenth century America.

Daytime programs will include adult lectures, music, and activities that explore nineteenth century America, the Kids’ Chautauqua, and performances by Young Chautauquans. A Family Day on Saturday will recreate the flavor of the Old West, including fur traders, mountain men, and Victorian entertainment. A highlight will be the appearance of Buffalo Bill Cody, whose legendary exploits helped create the myth of the American West that endures today, and a sharp shooting exhibition by Annie Oakley.

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Planning for 2009:

1) Musical Theater was a great success in 2007, with 15 excited participants.  We are considering offering this one again in 2009.

2) We are considering a Railroad History & Models program for the Summer of 2009, which would include the new Freight Station Museum in Greeley, the Golden Railroad Museum (photo of one engine below), a trip on the narrow-gauge Georgetown Loop, visits to the Garden Railroaders in Fort Collins and the Depot HO gauge layout in Denver, from where we would depart for an Amtrack ride through the Rocky Mountains to Glenwood Springs, with an overnight stay before returning to Denver & Greeley.  If you have other ideas or suggestions for this program, please send them to me.

For more information or to request a brochure for a free Elderhostel catalog, you may contact Jerry Neff at (970) 351-1067, or by e-mail:

 jerry.neff@unco.edu, or go to the UNC Elderhostel website: www.unco.edu/elderhostel.
To register, you may call toll free: 1-877-426-8056 or go to the Elderhostel website: www.elderhostel.org.

Last revised: 05/05/08

Page Contact:  Jerry A. Neff, Ed. D.
jerry.neff@unco.edu
(970) 351-1067
University of Northern Colorado
School of Human Sciences

Campus Box 132
Greeley, CO 80639

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