From April 7-10, 2011, the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum & Carriage House proudly presents “Rolling Through the West”–a symposium and special events regarding the stagecoach and horse-drawn vehicle influences upon the growth and expansion of the Western United States. Specifically oriented to the stagecoach, the symposium provides a forum for nationally recognized Carriage Association of America speakers to share their knowledge with enthusiasts, historians, museum personnel and anyone with a desire to know more about carriages “Rolling Through the West”.
The public is welcome to attend the Symposium featuring two full days of presentations, evening receptions, and carriage demonstrations, concluding with a Western-style dinner/dance on Saturday evening at the Museum. Epicurean Cowboy will cater a delicious New York strip steak and cedar plank salmon dinner and the popular Steve Woods Band will provide dance music for the festivities.
A special event will be held on Sunday, April 10, 2011, from 10am-2pm, when the public is invited to the Chamberlin Ranch on Zaca Station Road in Los Olivos for authentic Stagecoach and 20-Mule Team Wagon Rides through the lush backcountry reminiscent of early days in the Santa Ynez Valley. Rides on the stagecoaches are scheduled along a special route on the Chamberlin Ranch. Must be 10 years or older to ride. A barbeque lunch and a special apple cobbler dessert prepared in a Dutch oven will be available for purchase during the event.
Proceeds from the Symposium, dinner/dance and stagecoach/wagon rides will go toward upgrades for the Parks-Janeway Carriage House located on the Historical Museum’s grounds. The Parks-Janeway Carriage House, known as the finest of its kind west of the Rockies, displays 35 different types of wagons, carts, stagecoaches and other historical modes of early transportation, as well as saddles, harness and tack.
“Rolling Through the West” Symposium registration is $225 per person (early bird discount before March 7 is $200 per person) and includes all receptions and Saturday dinner/dance. Individual tickets to Saturday evening Western dinner/dance are $60 per person. Sunday Stagecoach rides are $25 per adult; $20 children (10 – 15 years) and take place on the Chamberlin Ranch.
Symposium program registration and ticket purchase for stagecoach and wagon rides can be made via the Museum website: www.santaynezmuseum.org or by calling the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum (805) 688-7889 or email: syvm@verizon.net