Nevada State Prison Chronicles
July 23 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Nevada State Prison Preservation Society Launches “Nevada State Prison Chronicles” Speaker Series
Free four-part series brings historians, medical professionals, and corrections insiders to the historic Nevada State Prison beginning July 16
CARSON CITY, Nev. — The Nevada State Prison Preservation Society (NSPPS) announces the launch of Nevada State Prison Chronicles, a free, four-night summer speaker series held at the historic Nevada State Prison. The series brings together historians, medical professionals, justice-involved voices, and corrections insiders to share firsthand stories from more than 150 years of Nevada history.
Each event begins at 6:00 p.m., with doors opening at 5:30 p.m., at the Nevada State Prison, 3301 E 5th St, Carson City, NV 89701. Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $10 to support the preservation of Nevada’s most historic institution.
“The walls of the Nevada State Prison have witnessed more than 150 years of history — stories of law, punishment, humanity, and redemption that shaped the Silver State,” said NSPPS. “This summer, those stories come to life.”
Speaker Lineup
Thursday, July 16 — Dr. Karen Gedney: Healing Behind Bars Medicine, Humanity, & 30 Years in Nevada Corrections Nevada’s first female prison doctor, Dr. Gedney treated patients through the HIV crisis, survived being taken hostage, and witnessed executions during her three decades at the Nevada State Prison. She opens the series with a talk blending history, medicine, and hard-won wisdom.
Thursday, July 23 — Sean Vassar: Remembering “NOGY” Retracing NSP History from the Inside After 21 years of incarceration, Sean Vassar became a memoirist, a Community Outreach Specialist with the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Nevada State Prison’s most dedicated caretaker. He shares a firsthand account of life inside “NOGY” – Nevada’s Old Guard Yard.
Thursday, July 30 — Glen Whorton: The Notorious Infamous Inmates & Unforgettable Stories A 32-year veteran of Nevada corrections who rose from correctional officer to Director of the Nevada Department of Corrections, Glen Whorton shares decades of research into the most notorious and improbable inmates ever held at the Nevada State Prison.
Thursday, August 6 — Rod Countryman: The Final Protocol A Firsthand Account of State Execution in Nevada Rod Countryman spent his corrections career at the center of Nevada’s capital punishment process. He offers a rare, firsthand look at the preparation, protocols, and people behind a state execution — from hanging to firing squad, gas, and lethal injection.
Event Details
• What: Nevada State Prison Chronicles, a free summer speaker series
• When: Thursdays, July 16 – August 6, 2026; doors at 5:30 p.m., program at 6:00 p.m.
• Where: Nevada State Prison, 3301 E 5th St, Carson City, NV 89701
• Cost: Free admission; $10 suggested donation
• RSVP: Space is limited. Reservations available at nevadastateprison.org/chronicles
Additional speakers may be added throughout the summer. NSPPS anticipates the series will return and expand in future seasons as a recurring institution celebrating Nevada’s history.
About the Nevada State Prison Preservation Society
The Nevada State Prison Preservation Society is dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of the Nevada State Prison, one of Nevada’s most significant historic sites, through tours, events, education, and community programming.
Media Contact: Nevada State Prison Preservation Society; info@nevadastateprison.org
