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Description
Stephen T. Mather: Live historical character reenactment
Sat. July 11, 2026 7:00-8:00 PM PDT
Lake of the Sky Amphitheater, Taylor Creek Visitor Center
Chautauqua presenter Steve Hale returns to our Lake of the Sky Amphitheater this summer to perform in first person and dressed to impress as marketing genius millionaire Stephen T. Mather, creator and first Director of the National Park Service in 1916. Ken Burns called the America’s National Parks “America’s Best Idea” and credits Mather as the visionary genius and “obsessed” leader who created the National Park Service (NPS) in August 1916.
NPS’s first Director Mather invites you to travel with him on his extraordinary life’s journey with a box of all-purpose Borax cleaner that propelled him to create the U.S. National Park Service whose professional Rangers preserve educate, illuminate, and inspire all who visit our national parks now and in future generations. Mather’s foresight continues to preserve the diversity and grandeur of America’s landscapes, history, and culture that has grown to 433 units encompassing 85 million acres coast to coast from Arcadia to Independence Hall Historic to Yosemite National Parks. He’ll tell us how his 1919 visit to Fallen Leaf Lake added Visitor Interpretation as an integral part of the mission for the National Park Service.
Presenter Background:
Steve has entered his third decade performing live costumed first person reenactments of pivotal American historical figures. He was invited to reenact Director Stephen Mather in Yosemite National Park at the NPS Yosemite Valley Visitor Center Theater for the NPS Centennial celebration throughout the summer of 2016. He has also published an illustrated book that celebrates Stephen Mather remarkable career.
Date & Time
Sat, Jul 11, 2026 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Venue Details
Lake of the Sky Amphitheater, Taylor Creek
Visitor Center Rd, California 89NSouth Lake Tahoe, California 96150
