May 19th, 2012 General Meeting @ Ridgecrest, CA View Calendar Read our Blog or view Photos by clicking below:   boss of the plains hat : death valley history conference Boss of the Plains Hat Henry Stetson, inventor of the cowboy hat and Boss of the Plains hat, was involved with the Death Valley '49ers for over 25 years. When in Death Valley, he always stayed at Stovepipe Wells Hotel and would show up at every Encampment dressed in his beautiful, tailored western clothes, sporting two holstered engraved pistols. To learn more about Henry Stetson and his Boss of the Plains Hat please visit our Boss of the Plains page. Death Valley History Conference   The Death Valley Natural History Association (DVNHA) presents the Ninth Annual Death Valley Conference on History and Prehistory. This year's event will be held in Beatty, Nevada November 4th-6th, 2011. Please consider presenting at the conference - papers, living history, and musical submissions are encouraged. If you have any expertise or interest in a unique Death Valley history or prehistory topic, please submit an abstract (500 words or less) before March 1, 2011. Presenters receive a $25 discount on conference registration. More info