Historian and author Dr. James Hanson, editor for the world-famous Museum of the Fur Trade in Chadron, offers this week’s Saturday afternoon lecture at Scotts Bluff National Monument.

The talk,  “Early Fur Trade of The Central Plains 1790-1834,” begins at 3:00 in the Visitor Center. There is no fee for the program although all visitors must have a valid park entrance pass.

Hanson, who holds a Ph.D. in American history and anthropology from the University of Wyoming, has done field research on American Indian history and Indian-White relations across North America, but is best known for his work on the fur trade industry.

He’s the author and illustrator of the 8-volume Sketch-book series about voyageurs, buffalo hunters, and mountain men, while the most recent of his 14 published books is When Skins Were Money: a History of the Fur Trade.

His present project is the first-ever encyclopedia of Indian trade goods. The first of the 6 volumes, Firearms of the Fur Trade, came out 2 years ago with the second volume, Clothing and Textiles of the Fur Trade, set for release later this year. .

Past executive director of the Nebraska State Historical Society and the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, Hanson has lectured in the US and Europe and taught courses at four universities.

His expertise has been used by the Hollywood film industry, Life magazine, NBC’s Today Show, the US Justice Department and the US Postal Service among others.