Class Platform: Virtual Learning

Day/Time: Monday, 10:30 - 11:30 AM, February 1 - April 12, *9 week class*

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Class Description: Join our team of OLLI at UNLV “tour guides” on a walk through of some of America’s most fascinating institutions, arts, and structures, and meet the larger-than-life characters associated with them. Here are just a few of the places, lives, times, history, and art we will explore this term: New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art; the Saxophone; Norman Rockwell; the Washington National Cathedral; Early Aviation and its Pioneer Women; and the world of Dr. Seuss.

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Instructor Biographies: Born and raised in Seattle, John Birkland holds a B.A. in humanities from Washington State University, the real Cougars. He served in the U.S. Army in Germany as a transportation specialist when not skiing, traveling, or sampling the different brews. He spent 40 years in the transportation business, the last 20 years employed by Department of Energy (DOE) contractors shipping hazardous and radioactive materials at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington state and then at the Nevada Test Site. Upon retirement he came to OLLI for the watercolor painting classes; he still struggles with that thankless art form. Vicki Birkland has shared a serendipitous life with husband John for nearly 50 years together. She taught in her native Washington state, California, Guam, Brunei, and Germany. She worked in a variety of roles at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation before working at, and retiring from, the Nevada Test Site. A love of the Smithsonian museums and history inspired the creation of this course exploring the Smithsonian’s artifacts and their stories. When they are not in OLLI classes or traveling, the Birklands enjoy the culture and fun of Las Vegas.