The walls of the Nevada State Prison have witnessed more than 150 years of history with stories of law, punishment, humanity, and redemption that shaped the Silver State. This summer, those stories come to life.

Nevada State Prison Chronicles is a free speaker series presented by the Nevada State Prison Preservation Society, bringing together historians, medical professionals, justice-involved voices, and corrections insiders to share the stories that defined life behind these walls.

Join us on Thursday evenings this summer for candid, compelling conversations you won't hear anywhere else. Each session takes place at 6:00 PM and admission is free with a suggested donation of $10 helping support the preservation of Nevada's most historic institution.

What: Nevada State Prison Chronicles - Free Summer Speaker Series

When: Thursdays at 6:00 PM | July 16, 23, 30, & August 6, 2026 | Doors open at 5:30 PM 

Where: Nevada State Prison – 3301 Warm Springs Ct, Carson City, NV 89701

Admission: Free | Suggested donation: $10 | Space is extremely limited. RSVP to save your spot.

Additional Info: nevadastateprison.org/chronicles

July 23 - Sean Vassar

Remembering "NOGY": Retracing NSP History from the Inside

History is often told through official records, photographs, and newspaper accounts. Sean Vassar tells it from the yard.

Sentenced to multiple life terms for bank robbery, Vassar spent more than 21 years incarcerated in Nevada's prison system, including nearly a decade at Nevada State Prison. During that time, he witnessed the daily realities of prison life, experienced the culture and traditions of the institution, and became part of a community that existed largely beyond public view.

Today, Vassar is the author of Nap of the Mammal, a memoir that chronicles his journey through incarceration and personal transformation. He also serves as Nevada State Prison's volunteer caretaker, helping preserve the very institution where he once lived behind bars.

In this deeply personal presentation, Vassar takes audiences inside "NOGY" ("Nevada's Old Guard Yard"), the nickname inmates gave to the original prison grounds before later expansions. Through firsthand stories, he will explore the routines, relationships, hardships, and unexpected moments of humanity that defined life inside Nevada State Prison. His perspective offers a rare opportunity to understand prison history not from the outside looking in, but from someone who lived it every day.