“History of the Orphan Trains” presented by Amanda Wahlmeier
will cover the history of the Orphan Trains from
1854 - 1929, and how this movement helped shift American society from placing
orphaned and abandoned children in orphanages to placing them with individual
families. Wahlmeier has served as
curator for the National Orphan Train Complex in Concordia since January 2012,
and had this to say, “This movement was such an important part of American
history, I love that I have the opportunity to preserve it.”
“The
Dirtiest Presentation Ever” by Austin Bontrager. With degrees in Environmental Soil Science
and Agronomy, Austin Bontrager knows quite a bit about dirt. In his presentation, Bontrager will focus on
the life of soil, what we can learn from studying soils, and why it is such an
invaluable resource.
“Comic-Con
International and the Geekification of America” by Kevin Dilmore. When San Diego’s Golden State Comic-Con drew
all of 300 people in 1970, organizers never imagined they were laying the
groundwork for what now is arguably the largest annual pop-culture event in the
world. Join Abilene native, author and
Comic-Con veteran Kevin Dilmore for a look inside Comic-Con International and
how its 150,000 annual attendees help shape what we see from the movie,
television, videogame and publishing industries.
Be sure to
come out to the Great Plains Theatre on April 25 for Nerd Nite, doors open and
drinks are served at 7:00pm, presentations begin at 7:30pm. Admission is free. Be there and be square.
Nerd Nite is
sponsored by the Dickinson County Historical Society, Great Plains Theatre,
Keller Photography & Design, and Kansas Humanities Council. For more information, visit
abileneks.nerdnite.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and RSVP here.