Alton Historical Society presents 'Last of the Granite State Rattlesnakes with Dan Billin'

ALTON — Historian and former newspaper reporter, Dan Billin, will present an illustrated lecture on the natural, social and political history of New Hampshire’s endangered timber rattlesnake on Tuesday, Aug. 18 at the Gilman Library at 100 Main St. in Alton. This New Hampshire Humanities program begins at 7 p.m. in the lower level of the building.

Billin will present vivid, little-known stories and images from the centuries-long war that has brought our rattlesnake to the brink of extinction. Topics include: who’s been bitten; the medicinal use of rattlesnake oil by the Shakers and others; the exploits of the “Rattlesnake king of New Hampshire”; the 20th-century rattlesnake panic in the state legislature; and the mysterious recent appearance of rattlesnakes with Pennsylvania genes.

Only a handful of rattlesnakes are known to survive and state law now protects them. Billin will review what is being done and not being done today to conserve our rattlesnakes, and the many obstacles to their survival.

For more information, visit altonnhhistoricalsociety.org.