John Muir, Yank Clement, Julia Bulette and Kit Carson visit Valhalla

The Lake Tahoe Historical Society is bringing historical characters back to life in their "Chautauqua at Lake Tahoe 2015" on September 20 at 5 p.m. in the Valhalla Grand Hall.

Experience Mrs. Tevis, John Muir, Yank Clement, Julia Bulette, Charley Parkhurst and Kit Carson as you've never imagined.

Last year's sold out event in the Boathouse Theater was so successful the Historical Society decided to move into a larger venue and add dinner to the evening.

The doors will open at 4:45 p.m., socializing and raffle from 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and entertainment from 6:45 p.m to 8:45 p.m.

Ten specialty baskets will be raffled off, including a private BBQ dinner and tour at the historic Celio Ranch for your group. Raffle tickets will be sold at the museum and no need to be present at the Chautauqua to win.

Dinner tickets are $60 for society members, $70 for non-members. They are available at the museum Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets can also be ordered over the phone at 530-541-5458. Tickets may be available at the door for $70, if not sold out. There are only 120 seats available. Annual memberships are available on their website, starting at $5 for kids, $20 for seniors, $25 for adults, $45 for families and $250 for lifetime..

Chautauquas were an adult education movement in the United States, highly popular in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Named after Chautauqua Lake where the first was held, Chautauqua assemblies expanded and spread throughout rural America until the mid-1920s. A Chautauqua Assembly brought entertainment and culture for the whole community, with speakers, teachers, musicians, entertainers, preachers and specialists of the day. Former US President Theodore Roosevelt was quoted as saying that Chautauqua is "the most American thing in America".