Near Truckee in Nevada County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

A Family Heads West

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, April 26, 2018

1. A Family Heads West Marker

Inscription. The Donner family and their hired teamsters left Springfield, Illinois in April, 1846. At Independence, Missouri, their wagons joined hundreds of others traveling west on the Oregon-California Trail.

The New Captain Takes a Shortcut
Upon reaching the Little Sandy River, several families including the Donners, left the main wagon trail in favor of a shortcut. This small band of pioneers elected George Donner as Captain.
In August, the 23 wagons of the Donner Party headed west from Fort Bridger, the last outpost of "civilization" until they reached Sutter's Fort in California's Sacramento Valley, over 1,000 miles away.

(Side bar at top right:)
I never could have believed we could have traveled so far with so little difficulty.
Mrs. George Donner
From a letter written by Tamzene Donner, in Nebraska near the junction of the North and South Platte Rivers - June 16, 1846

Erected by Tahoe National Forest.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 39° 22.532′ N, 120° 10.768′ W. Marker is near Truckee, California, in Nevada County. Marker can be reached from

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California Route 89 near Alder Creek Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12893 California Highway 89, Truckee CA 96161, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Westward Ho! (within shouting distance of this marker); The Nightmare Begins (within shouting distance of this marker); Surviving the Snowy Trek Out (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Donner Party Camp at Alder Creek Valley / Tamsen and Elizabeth Donner (about 400 feet away); The Fight to Stay Alive (about 500 feet away); Donner Camp Site (about 500 feet away); Donner Camp Tree (about 500 feet away); Shelter From the Storm (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Truckee.

More about this marker. This marker is located on the Donner Camp Historic Trail.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, April 26, 2018

2. A Family Heads West Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 13, 2019. It was originally submitted on February 13, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 239 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 13, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.