GBNP 40th Anniversary Speaker Series
In 2026, Great Basin National Park celebrates its 40th anniversary - a milestone shaped by decades of scientific research, stewardship, and community passion. To honor this legacy and expand access to the stories that make the Park extraordinary, Great Basin National Park Foundation is launching a monthly Virtual Speaker Series.
Whether you’re a longtime Park enthusiast and explorer, or someone discovering Great Basin National Park for the first time, the series will offer a unique opportunity to see the Park through new perspectives. We hope you’ll join us!
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, May 12, 5 pm pacific time - The Story of Great Basin National Park's Designation
Join us for the inside story behind Great Basin National Park’s designation - where political resolve and decades of hard work by dedicated individuals turned an unlikely vision into a national treasure. Hear from important players who helped make the dream of the Park a reality.
Register
Learn more about our event and speakers!
Tuesday, June 2, 6 pm pacific time - National Cave and Karst Week at Great Basin
Dive underground with Park experts to explore how Great Basin National Park's subterranean wonders have shaped—and been shaped by—science, stewardship, and community engagement over four decades.
Register
Learn more about our event and speakers!
Wednesday, July 15, 6 pm pacific time - Great Basin's Dark Skies and the Great Basin Observatory
Celebrate two milestones at Great Basin: the 40th anniversary of Great Basin National Park and the 10th anniversary of the Great Basin Observatory, the only research-grade observatory located in a U.S. national park! In a place where half the Park is after dark, join us to explore the Park’s remarkable dark skies, how the observatory came to be, and how astronomy enthusiasts can get involved.
Register
Wednesday, August 12, 6 pm pacific time - Dark Skies, Bright Minds: Great Basin Observatory Research and Impact
Ten years ago, the Great Basin Observatory captured its first light. In this program, hear from students who have used the GBO for research, along with our GBO Collaborative partner professors from the University of Nevada, Reno and Southern Utah University. Together, they’ll highlight how the GBO supports astronomy research, student learning, and dark sky preservation in the Great Basin.
Past Programs
You can find recordings of the programs below on our YouTube page.
Superintendent Stories
Our kick-off event will feature three former Great Basin National Park superintendents whose leadership and passion helped define Great Basin National Park’s identity, protect its resources, and expand its impact, sustainability, accessibility, and significance. Learn more about our event and speakers!
The Park / Art Connection
What happens when painters, photographers, and composers immerse themselves in one of the most remote and inspiring landscapes in America? How do creativity, conservation, and place intertwine? And why does art matter in National Parks? In this program we will be joined by four former Great Basin National Park Artists-in-Residence - painters, writers, and composers - to discuss why and how art benefits national parks and national parks benefit artists. Learn more about our event and speakers!
Packrat Middens: Uncovering Thousands of Years of Biotic Change in the Great Basin
Did you know that packrat’s preserved nests have provided significant insight into Great Basin’s climate and biota through time? Discover packrats’ biological and ecological significance to mammalian research and beyond with Dr. Ally Coconis, packrat researcher and Curator of Mammalogy at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Learn more about our event and speaker!
Water Warriors
Water is essential to life in the Great Basin desert. In this program, writer Michael Branch will share stories from his new book project, Water Warriors, which tells the inspiring story of how a colorful and diverse underdog alliance of rural Nevadans won a monumental battle in the water wars of the west, and helped safeguard water essential to life within the Great Basin region. Learn more about our event and speaker!
More programs and details coming soon. Please check back regularly for updates and additions to our schedule of events!