Olympic Valley in Placer County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Allexey W Von Schmidt

1821 - 1906

Photographed by Lance C Johnson

1. Allexey W Von Schmidt Marker

Inscription. A Russian emigrant, surveyor and visionary, Von Schmidt established the present California-Nevada state line between Lake Tahoe and Oregon. He formed the San Fransico and Lake Tahoe Waterworks Company which proposed, during the 1870s, to build a damn on the Truckee River near this spot to divert water, first into a tunnel on the western slope of the Sierra and then onto San Francisco; The Transcontinental Railroad would share the tunnel and the costs. Great Basin water users and monetary problems prevented the dream from becoming reality.

Erected 1987 by Chief Truckee Chapter 3691, E Clampus Vitus.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.

Location. 39° 11.131′ N, 120° 11.681′ W. Marker is in Olympic Valley, California, in Placer County. It is on River Road (California Route 89) south of Alpine Meadows Road, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Olympic Valley CA 96146, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sacramento Metro,

in the 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,

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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Lake Tahoe Railway and Transportation Co. (within shouting distance of this marker); Pioneer Ski Area of America (approx. 2.3

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

miles away); Roads and Bridges (approx. 3 miles away); Conflict Over Water (approx. 3 miles away); The Gatekeeper’s Cabin and Museum (approx. 3 miles away); A Tradition of Basketmaking (approx. 3 miles away); Lake Tahoe (approx. 3 miles away); The Plentiful Lake (approx. 3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Olympic Valley.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 31, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 30, 2021, by Lance C Johnson of Sun Valley, Nevada. This page has been viewed 476 times since then and 42 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on March 30, 2021, by Lance C Johnson of Sun Valley, Nevada. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Wide area view of the marker and its surroundings. • Can you help?