Coming up this Saturday! Don't miss this explosive talk 😉How did thousands of Chinese laborers carve a path for the Transcontinental Railroad through the granite of Donner Pass? Join us for the next Sierra Speaker Series presentation, Explosives & Railroads, and uncover the remarkable story of the men, methods, and materials that helped make one of America's greatest engineering feats possible. Learn how black powder and nitroglycerine were used to blast tunnels, shape the railroad grade, and connect the nation during the construction of the Central Pacific Railroad in the 1860s.
Presented by railroad historian and longtime docent Paul Helman, whose 22 years of service at the California State Railroad Museum have made him a trusted interpreter of railroad history.
📅 October 17, 2026
🕔 Doors open at 5:00 PM | Program begins at 5:30 PM
📍 Donner Memorial State Park Visitor Center in Truckee, CA
🎟 Suggested donation: $5 | No registration required
🚗 Free parking after 5 PM
🍷 Light refreshments and wine available, courtesy of Highway 12 Winery
The Sierra Speaker Series is presented in partnership with California State Parks and the Nevada County Library and made possible through the support of Plumas Bank.
