Gold Dredges: The Land Leviathans Lecture

Saturday, January 30th, 2016 from 2-3pm

Lecture—Gold Dredges: The Land Leviathans by Rick Martin

An in-depth photograph and lecture presentation of the origin, operations, and economics of giant land based gold dredges from the turn of the 20th century to their decline mid-century, and limited operations in the 1980s and 1990s.

Photographs, early films and personal experiences will offer a unique insight into these massive mechanical marvels and the men who built and operated them.

Bio information about Rick Martin

Rick Martin is a Health and Safety Consultant currently working as the Senior Health and Safety consultant at the Tesla Gigafactory construction site in Sparks, Nevada. As a Health and Safety Professional, Martin’s career has spanned some 40 years, and includes Law Enforcement, Fire Service, Emergency Medical Services, and Mining Safety Management.

Martin has a passion for history, and especially gold dredges. One of his first jobs as a sixteen year old boy, was working on a huge gold dredge in California, and later in life, on one of the giant gold dredges in Alaska. He approaches the subject from firsthand experience and extensive research.

As a published author and lecturer on health and safety subjects, Martin is also a frequent presenter on history topics, particularly relating to the mining industry and western states history. Martin is currently working on three books for publication, one on the history of the mills of the Carson River, one on the early logging and deforestation of the Sierras, and one on the history and operations of giant gold dredges of the 19th century.