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

The Transcontinental Railroad and Boca Dam

The First Transcontinental Railroad

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 18, 2017

1. The Transcontinental Railroad and Boca Dam Marker

Inscription. In 1866 the Central Pacific Railroad in their push east over the Sierra Nevada set up Construction Camp 17 just downstream from here at the confluence of the Truckee River and the Little Truckee River. Camp 17 quickly became known as Boca, Spanish for mouth,
The railroad needed wood for ties, telegraph poles, snow sheds and fuel. In 1868, because this part of the Sierra Nevada had large timber stands, a sawmill was established. The first Boca Dam was built that year to create the mill's log pond. In the winter the log pond froze over. The company began harvesting the natural ice in 1869.
The combination of the railroad and ice made Boca an ideal location for a brewery. In 1876 a brewery was established. It became famous for its award winning lager beer.

Discover more about the historic boomtown of Boca by visiting Boca Town Site Interpretive Trail.

Erected by U.S Department of Agriculture, Tahoe National Forest.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus, and the First Transcontinental Railroad

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series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1866.

Location. 39° 23.49′ N, 120° 5.532′ W. Marker is near Truckee, California, in Nevada County. It is on Stampede Meadows Road near Boca Dam Reservoir Road, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10512 Stampede Meadows Road, Truckee CA 96161, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sierra Nevada.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A Town Mostly of Men (approx. 0.3 miles away); Boca Townsite (approx. 0.3 miles away); Clinton Narrow Gauge Railroad (approx. 1.8 miles away); Floriston (approx. 3.7 miles away); Farad Powerhouse (approx. 3.8 miles away); Donner Camp Site (approx. 4.7 miles away); Shelter From the Storm

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 18, 2017

2. The Transcontinental Railroad and Boca Dam Marker

(approx. 4.8 miles away); Donner Camp Tree (approx. 4.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Truckee.

Boca Dam and Dedication Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 18, 2017

3. Boca Dam and Dedication Plaque

Boca Dam Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 18, 2017

4. Boca Dam Plaque

Boca Dam
1937 - 1940
United States
Department of the Interior
Harold L. Ickes ... Secretary
Bureau of Reclamation
John E. Page ... Commissioner
R.F. Walter ... Chief Engineer
L.J. Foster and C.S. Hale Construction Engineers

Height ..... 116 feet
Length ..... 629 feet
Storage Capacity ... 40,901 acre-feet
Contractor ..... George W. Condon Co.

Boca Dam Plaque Missing image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ysterdad, June 27, 2026

5. Boca Dam Plaque Missing

Boca Dam Plaque is missing and the column is damaged.

"Boca Beer" plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 18, 2017

6. "Boca Beer" plaque

Boca Dam in the background.

"Boca" Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ysterdad, June 27, 2026

7. "Boca" Plaque

Plaque is present in this photo

Photographed by Ysterdad, June 27, 2026

8. "Boca" Plaque

Noted as a railroad, ice, and lumbering center since 1867 but most fondly remembered and hereby honored as home of the Boca brewery which was located 1/2 mile south of this point across the Truckee river. Boca lager beer was world famous and and mercifully slaked the thirst of a grateful mankind. Dedicated August 13, 1977 Chief Truckee Chamber 3691 E Clampus Vitus

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 18, 2017

9. "Boca Beer" Plaque

"Warranted to Keep in any Weather"
Rededicated May 12, 2001/6006
Chief Truckee Chapter No. 3691
E Clampus Vitus

Monumental Sawmill, C.R.R.R. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J.J. Reilly, circa 1870s

10. Monumental Sawmill, C.R.R.R.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 8, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 860 times since then and 50 times this year. Last updated on February 7, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 8, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 5. submitted on June 29, 2026, by Ysterdad of Concord, California. 6. submitted on July 8, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 7, 8. submitted on June 29, 2026, by Ysterdad of Concord, California. 9, 10. submitted on July 8, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.