November coolest time to visit Death Valley

The coolest time of the year in the hottest place on the continent begins next month.

To mark the start of Death Valley National Park's busiest visitation season, two booster organizations coordinate annual meetings in early November. The Death Valley Natural History Association holds its Conference on History and Prehistory in Beatty from Nov. 4 to 6 at the Beatty Community Center, 212 A Ave. South. The history conference precedes the 62nd annual Death Valley '49ers Encampment at various locations in Death Valley from Nov. 9 to 13.

Death Valley National Park's stark beauty, unusual natural features and fascinating history inspire these nonprofit organizations to promote, preserve and protect this diverse desert tract for appreciation by future visitors. The '49ers organized a century after the California gold rush began in 1849, luring some gold seekers who used forbidding Death Valley as a shortcut to the gold fields. The '49ers help sponsor the conference of history and prehistory, in cooperation with the Death Valley Natural History Association, the National Park Service, the Beatty Museum and the Shoshone Museum in Shoshone, Calif.

The annual history conference provides an outlet for history buffs, writers and researchers. The event encourages original research on the human history and prehistory of the Death Valley region. A conference committee selects work to be included in the annual meeting. This year's presentations focus on the legendary lost Gunsight Mine, the 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps in Death Valley, the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad, prostitution at Ash Meadows, and the early '49ers reunions.

About two dozen authors and researchers introduce their work in 15- to 30-minute sessions during the two-day conference. Academic, theatrical and musical presentations, as well as shorter "snippets of history" are included. Registered participants and presenters receive a conference publication with full texts, photos and illustrations. Books from previous years and other publications will be available during a book fair benefiting the Beatty Volunteer Fire Department.

The Death Valley History Conference welcomes all registered attendees. Register at 222.dvnha.org, by calling (800) 478-8564, extension 10, or at the door. A registration fee of $125 includes presentations, two lunches, a Friday reception, a Saturday banquet and the conference book. Sunday field trips arranged for attendees include a one-hour tour retracing the railroad grade between Beatty and the ghost town of Rhyolite, a historical tour of Rhyolite or a day trip to old Gold Point and lunch with character host Sheriff Stone.

Because of yearlong renovation projects under way at Furnace Creek in Death Valley, the association moved the conference to Beatty, a portal town for the national park. Beatty offers RV parks and more motel rooms than nearby Death Valley. Some Beatty motels offer discounts or special pricing to history conference attendees.

The construction projects in Death Valley also affect the location for events and activities during the '49ers Encampment, which annually draws thousands to Death Valley. Veterans of the encampment will find favorite activities taking place in different places than in the past. Some indoor events will have to be held outside. Spaces for the hundreds of RV users who show up for the annual gathering might be relocated.

Otherwise, the popular encampment remains much the same with its juried Western art show, invitational mineral and lapidary show, covered-wagon train, games, contests, tournaments, community breakfasts, parades, dancing under the stars, vendors and all kinds of music and entertainment.

Proceeds from the annual gathering fund the group's educational programs and special projects. Investigate the activities scheduled before and during this year's encampment on the Internet at www.deathvalley49ers.org. Although many activities during the encampment are open to the general public, all special events are open only to registrants. Registration costs $135, which includes a '49ers membership fee of $35.

Margo Bartlett Pesek's column appears Sundays.