Angels Camp, CA…Fight the U.S. Navy? Save a historic U. S. Aircraft Carrier and the last battleship, the USS Iowa, and turn them into Museums? People said, “It can’t be done!” But a group of indefatigable people dedicated themselves to proving those naysayers wrong with a magnificent restoration project that saved two US Naval ships. Come hear Angels Camp residents Bob Rogers and Judy Laws continue to tell the exciting stories of how they and three other hardy souls fought the U.S. Navy, saved the USS HORNET and the USS IOWA from being scrapped, and turned them into successful museums.

Bob Rogers and Judy Laws, historians, national museum developers, and media consultants, along with Dennis McCue who was part of the restoration project, present parts 2-3 of a four-part lecture series about saving these two historic and famous US Navy ships. Saving US Naval Ships as Museums—the first session was about the US Navy aircraft carrier, the Hornet, and next up are two lectures on the battleship, the USS Iowa, with a finale sharing US Naval Ship ghost stories.

Lectures 2 and 3 (Sundays, March 13 and 20, 2-4pm), From Scrapyard to Museum: Saving the Last Battleship, the USS Iowa, focus on the restoration of “FDR’s Personal Battleship” with documents that chronicle that story. The final lecture (Sunday, April 10, 2-4pm), US Navy Ship Ghost Stories, will be an afternoon for sharing and swapping supernatural tales that originated with the USS Hornet and other ships.

This free lecture series is sure to captivate veterans, everyone interested in naval history, and those who like to hear the story of heroic efforts to save and restore important symbols of the US story.
Be sure to visit Manzanita Arts Emporium, the home of Manzanita Writers Press located at 1211 South Main Street, Suite 110, in Historic Angels Camp. Peruse the eclectic, contemporary collection of books, fine art, prints, cards, jewelry, woodworking, botanical art, hard-edge design wall sculpture, puppets and more. Check out the new line up of workshops by visiting manzapress.com. Hours are Wednesday through Monday from 10 am to 5 pm (open 6 days a week, closed on Tuesdays).
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