The Sparks Museum Podcast

by Sparks Heritage Museum

The Sparks Museum Podcast is a history-themed podcast offering an immersive storytelling experience to complement the many historic artifacts, exhibits, and stories preserved and displayed inside the Sparks Heritage Museum in Sparks, Nevada. The museum has been dedicated to preserving the historical and cultural heritage of Sparks and surrounding Truckee Meadows region for the education and enjoyment of present and future gene ...   ...  Read more
Education
History
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Podcast episodes

  • Season 1

  • Episode 18 - Celebrating Season 1 of The Sparks Museum Podcast with Dr. Christine Johnson!

    Episode 18 - Celebrating Season 1 of The Sparks Museum Podcast with Dr. Christine Johnson!

    S01 E18
    38:16

    On this final episode of Season 1 of the Sparks Museum Podcast, Dr. Christine Johnson, Executive Director of the Sparks Museum, discusses her efforts in the museum to date and her hopes for the future of the museum and this podcast. We have been proud to feature Sparks stories from local experts, historians, and personalities, bringing you an in-depth insight into the moments that have given this city that unique “spark” that you can’t quite find anywhere else. We hope to return for a Season 2, but can’t do it without you! Please share our podcast and consider donating to the Sparks Museum’s efforts at our website at www.sparksmuseum.org. This episode along with the entire first season of the Sparks Museum Podcast is available at https://rss.com/podcasts/sparksmuseum/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Visit the Sparks Heritage Museum Tuesdays through Saturdays. We are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, with tours of the Lillard Park train yard running every forty-five minutes on Saturdays.For more information, visit sparksmuseum.org, or follow us on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @sparksmuseum.

  • Episode 17 - Remembering John Ascuaga's Nugget with Stephen Ascuaga!

    Episode 17 - Remembering John Ascuaga's Nugget with Stephen Ascuaga!

    S01 E17
    52:37

    On this episode of The Sparks Museum Podcast, we welcome Stephen Ascuaga, Corporate Director of Business Development at the Peppermill Casino, and former Chief Operating Officer at the Nugget Casino in Sparks. He is also son of one of Nevada’s most prominent businessmen and beloved local icon John Ascuaga. Stephen discusses his father's legacy and the legacy of his family, the growth and impact the Nugget Casino has made on the City of Sparks, and many personal stories about interactions with guests and of course, the ever-famous Bertha the Elephant. This episode along with the entire season of the Sparks Museum Podcast so far is available at https://rss.com/podcasts/sparksmuseum/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Visit the Sparks Heritage Museum Tuesdays through Saturdays. We are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, with tours of the Lillard Park train yard running every forty-five minutes on Saturdays.For more information, visit sparksmuseum.org, or follow us on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @sparksmuseum.

  • Episode 16 - Understanding Governor John Sparks with Dr. Michael Fischer!

    Episode 16 - Understanding Governor John Sparks with Dr. Michael Fischer!

    S01 E16
    43:19

    On this episode of The Sparks Museum Podcast, Dr. Michael Fischer speaks about the life and history of Governor John Sparks. One of Dr. Fischer's foremost passions is Chautauqua, and he has performed as John Sparks for many years and for many different events and speaking engagements. He speaks about the history of “Honest John,” the tenth governor of Nevada for whom the city of Sparks is named. He shares the research he has accumulated over the years regarding this ambitious, important historical figure and his many adventures, as well as his own history as a Chautauquan. This episode along with the entire season of the Sparks Museum Podcast so far is available at https://rss.com/podcasts/sparksmuseum/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Visit the Sparks Heritage Museum Tuesdays through Saturdays. We are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, with tours of the Lillard Park train yard running every forty-five minutes on Saturdays.For more information, visit sparksmuseum.org, or follow us on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @sparksmuseum.

  • Episode 15 - Full Steam Ahead with Adam Michalski on the History of Sparks Transportation

    Episode 15 - Full Steam Ahead with Adam Michalski on the History of Sparks Transportation

    S01 E15
    54:14

    On this episode of The Sparks Museum Podcast, Adam Michalski, the current curator of education at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City, discusses the history of the railroads of Northern Nevada. He covers the various steam-and electric powered locomotives and vehicles that built the economy and population of the city of Sparks in its earliest years, as well as his own history studying railroads and some of the recent efforts of the Nevada State Railroad Museum. This episode along with the entire season of the Sparks Museum Podcast so far is available at https://rss.com/podcasts/sparksmuseum/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Visit the Sparks Heritage Museum Tuesdays through Saturdays. We are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, with tours of the Lillard Park train yard running every forty-five minutes on Saturdays.For more information, visit sparksmuseum.org, or follow us on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @sparksmuseum.

  • Episode 14 - Eating Up the History of The Coney Island Bar with Greg & Dana Galletti

    Episode 14 - Eating Up the History of The Coney Island Bar with Greg & Dana Galletti

    S01 E14
    27:08

    On this episode of The Sparks Museum Podcast, Greg and Dana Galletti speak about their role as owners and managers of The Coney Island Bar, the history of the Galletti family, the longevity of their ever-popular restaurant, how it became listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the importance of Coney Island to the Sparks community today.This episode along with the entire season of the Sparks Museum Podcast so far is available at https://rss.com/podcasts/sparksmuseum/ or wherever you get your podcasts! Visit the Sparks Heritage Museum Tuesdays through Saturdays. We are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, with tours of the Lillard Park train yard running every forty-five minutes on Saturdays.For more information, visit sparksmuseum.org, or follow us on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @sparksmuseum.