Survivors & Heroes Expedition logo. Photo courtesy of Auburn State Theatre

AUBURN, CA (MPG) - Auburn State Theatre invites you to a fascinating new History Expeditions’ presentation honoring the legendary 1844 Horseback Party of Six. Part of the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party emigrating from Iowa to California, this group of six individuals broke from the main party at the Truckee River Divide as winter threatened, making their way south to Auburn. No one has been able to discern the route the Six took - until now.

For the past year, modern adventurers Bob Crowley, Hal Hall, Tim Twietmeyer, Jennifer Hemme, Elke Reimer and Kassandra DiMaggio have been living and breathing 1844. Their preparation reads like a graduate-level history course crossed with extreme sports training. The team has meticulously researched the route, digging through archives, old diaries, maps, dissertations on Native American trade routes and more, uncovering new clues about their journey — some that might even rewrite one of the world’s greatest survival stories. These veteran endurance athletes also spent months conditioning for their days in the saddle and on foot, covering terrain that drops nearly 6,000 feet from Burton Pass.

Saddle up! On Sept. 29th, the team will set off on horseback from Donner Memorial State Park, retracing the steps of the Six. You can follow History Expeditions’ progress via a live GPS Tracker on their website, historyexp.org, as they ride 120 miles to Auburn in five days, following in the actual hoofprints of history. 

This September, a team of six adventures will retrace the steps of the legendary 1844 Horseback Party of Six, setting off from Donnor Memorial State Park. Photo courtesy of Auburn State Theatre

On Friday, Oct. 3rd starting at 7 p.m. the team’s discoveries will unfold at Auburn’s Crooked Lane Brewery through the telling of stories, enhanced by captured film and breathtaking imagery of the Sierra. Come enjoy a taste of Crooked Lane’s special “Survivors and Heroes” craft brew as you listen to the fresh-off-the-trail tale of this Expedition. This will be an entertaining evening about a remarkable and inspiring America West story.

Ticket price is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and kids 11 and under (includes $2 fee). Tickets can be purchased at AuburnStateTheatre.org or 530-885-0156.