Near Kirkwood in Alpine County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Kit Carson

Photographed By Syd Whittle, July 31, 2006

1. Kit Carson Marker

Inscription. On this spot, which marks the summit of the Kit Carson Pass, stood what was known as the Kit Carson Tree on which the famous scout Kit Carson inscribed his name in 1844 when he guided the then Captain John C. Fremont, head of a government exploring expedition, over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Above is a replica of the original inscription cut from the tree in 1888 and now in Sutter’s Fort, Sacramento.

Erected 1921 by The Historic Landmarks Committee, Native Sons of the Golden West. (Marker Number 315.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, and the Native Sons/Daughters of the Golden West series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1844.

Location. 38° 41.633′ N, 119° 59.235′ W. Marker is near Kirkwood, California, in Alpine County. Marker can be reached from Carson Pass Scenic Byway (State Highway 88), on the right. The marker is located at the parking area of the Kit Carson Monument Visiters Center. This is a fee area. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Kirkwood CA 95646, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Snowshoe Thom(p)son (a few steps from this marker); Naming of Carson Pass

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(about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Carson Trail - Ascent to Carson Pass (about 600 feet away); Memorial to Pioneer Odd Fellows (about 600 feet away); First Summit (about 700 feet away); The Emigrant Trail (about 800 feet away); Summer Retreat (approx. 3.1 miles away); Caples Lake (approx. 3.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kirkwood.

More about this marker. The Nearby Marker “Naming of Carson Pass” contradicts this marker text by stating that “It is not likely that Carson carved his name on that tree during Fremont’s Expedition in 1844. Weeks of heavy snowfall that winter made the crossing very difficult and the expedition was running out of food. Any man in those desperate conditions would not be digging down through 20 or 30 feet of snow to ground level to carve his name on a tree. However, in the summer of 1853, Kit Carson with a group of men and 6500 head of sheep did come over this pass headed for the gold fields to sell their sheep. Could it have been then that Carson took the time to carve his name on the tree but dated it back to 1844 when

Photographed By Syd Whittle, July 31, 2006

2. Kit Carson Marker

he was first here?”

Regarding Kit Carson. In 1939 this was designated California Historical Landmark No. 315.

Also see . . . Sangres.com: Christopher “Kit” Carson. (Submitted on October 3, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.)

Close Up of Kit Carson Carving Replica on Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, July 31, 2006

3. Close Up of Kit Carson Carving Replica on Marker

Summit of Kit Carson Pass, California image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Frashers Foto

4. Summit of Kit Carson Pass, California

On the Scenic Alpine Highway across the High Sierra (Note marker on left)

Library of Congress

5. Kit Carson

Credits. This page was last revised on January 24, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 3, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 3,608 times since then and 43 times this year. Last updated on December 20, 2016, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 3, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.