Near Tahoe City in Placer County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Placer County Emigrant Road

Photographed by Kt, September 7, 2019

1. Placer County Emigrant Road Marker

Inscription. The Placer County Emigrant Road, known today as the Western States Trail, extended from Yankee Jim's on the Foresthill Divide to the Washoe Valley in Nevada. Built in 1852, the road served emigrants before providing a link to the Comstock boom towns such as Gold Hill, Silver City and Virginia City in Nevada. In September, 1931, pioneer horseman Robert Montgomery Watson, along with the Native Sons of the Golden West, completed marking the portion of the trail from Lake Tahoe to Auburn. The granite monument before you is the original trail marker constructed by Robert Montgomery Watson during the summer of 1931.

Erected 1998 by E Clampus Vitus, Chief Truckee Chapter 3691.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1931.

Location. 39° 11.399′ N, 120° 16.531′ W. Marker is near Tahoe City, California, in Placer County. It can be reached from no nearby street. West side of Squaw Valley Ski Resort on the edge of Granite Chief Wilderness. Touch for map. Marker is in

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this post office area: Olympic Valley CA 96146, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sierra Nevada

and in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

on 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 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Pioneer Ski Area of America (approx. 2.2 miles away); Lake Tahoe Railway and Transportation Co. (approx. 4.3 miles away); Allexey W Von Schmidt (approx. 4.3 miles away); Roads and Bridges (approx. 7.2 miles away); Conflict Over Water (approx. 7.2 miles away); The Gatekeeper’s Cabin and Museum (approx. 7.2 miles away); A Tradition of Basketmaking (approx. 7.2 miles away); The Sacred Lake (approx. 7.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tahoe City.

Regarding Placer County Emigrant Road. Robert M. Watson: Tahoe City Lawman
By Mark

Placer County Emigrant Road Marker and Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kristy T, September 7, 2019

2. Placer County Emigrant Road Marker and Monument

McLaughlin - May 24, 2017 https://thetahoeweekly.com/2017/05/33548/

In 1930, less than two years before he died, Watson constructed a granite monument near Emigrant Pass, a piece of history that still stands. Incredibly, Watson’s homemade commemorative marker, dedicated “to pioneers and men who served their country in wars and settling the country” at an elevation of 8,774 feet has withstood 87 winters at the top of Squaw Valley. Today, the Emigrant Road is now part of the 100-mile Western States Trail Race, an internationally renowned ultra-marathon endurance race for equestrians and runners.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 23, 2019. It was originally submitted on December 22, 2019, by Kristy T of Sacramento, California. This page has been viewed 1,064 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 22, 2019, by Kristy T of Sacramento, California. 2. submitted on December 23, 2019, by Kristy T of Sacramento, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.