Larry will share his introductory program where he answers the conundrum: Why in the world would anybody want to build a town out here of all places, and what did it take to keep the town from becoming a ghost town after the gold ran out? For the past 50 years Larry Smith has been leading field trips for students and adults out to Jacksonville’s historic goldmines.

Presenter Bio: Larry Smith taught 5th grade at the Jacksonville Elementary School for 35 years. Although he is purportedly semi-retired, he continues to tour countless excursions of school kids on our network of trails. He was also a National Park Ranger at Crater Lake for 23 summers. Larry is a founding member of the Jacksonville Woodlands Association and has served in many roles in that organization, currently as Executive Director. He has written a history that details the amazing development of the Jacksonville Woodlands.