Friday, Oct. 2nd** – 7:30 PM – SMALL THEATER**

Illustrated Lecture:

“HOW THE VISIONARIES OF EVERGREEN CEMETERY SHAPED SANTA CRUZ'S CREATIVE SOUL” – by Dr. Traci Bliss

How did an isolated seaside town of only 3,500 residents become an unlikely cultural powerhouse? The answer lies at Evergreen Cemetery, where remarkable early artists, musicians, and educators rest within a stone's throw of one another. Discover their extraordinary, interconnected stories of sacrifice, heartbreak, bold ambition, and an unwavering belief that the arts could transform a community. Their influence not only endures but thrives in today's Santa Cruz.

Award-winning professor, historian, and author Dr. Traci Bliss brings a uniquely personal perspective to Evergreen Cemetery. Her ancestors donated the land that promised Santa Cruz a burial ground welcoming to all, and more than two dozen relatives are buried there—including a beloved opera star who helped make Santa Cruz a center of musical life.

Bliss's lifelong interest in cultural history solidified while an Art History major at Stanford University, which included extended study in Florence, Italy. She is the author of Evergreen Cemetery of Santa Cruz, designated a Goodreads Book, co-author of Santa Cruz's Seabright, and author of Big Basin Redwood Forest: Santa Cruz's Oldest State Park. As President of the Santa Cruz History Forum at the Museum of Art & History (MAH), she is dedicated to preserving and sharing the remarkable stories that shaped our community.

Bliss will sign copies of Evergreen Cemetery of Santa Cruz at the conclusion of the event. The book is available at a 20% discount: $20 cash or check only.

Tickets: $10 advance / $15 at the door.

Doors open at 7:00 PM, lecture at 7:30 PM at The 418 Project, 155 South River Street, downtown Santa Cruz at the Dragons Gate.