Genoa in Douglas County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)

We Salute John “Snowshoe” Thompson
⎯⎯⎯
A Tribute From Three Lutheran Churches

Photographed by Syd Whittle, July 6, 2009

1. We Salute John “Snowshoe” Thompson / A Tribute From Three Lutheran Churches Marker

Inscription.
We Salute John “Snowshoe” Thompson On his homemade snowshoes John carried the mail and supplies over the snowy Sierras for 20 winters. As he traveled, he saved the lives of seven people who were snowbound in mountain cabins. In 1866, after this tall Norwegian became an American citizen, he homesteaded a 160 acre ranch in Diamond Valley. Respected by all who knew him, John was elected to the Alpine County Board of Supervisors.

A Tribute From Three Lutheran Churches Atraa Lutheran Church in Telemark, Norway, -- Where John was baptized, and the two Wisconsin Churches where John worshipped with his family: Historic old Muskego Lutheran Church and Springdale Lutheran Church in Mt. Horeb. Then Snowshoe joined the rush to California. Though he found no gold, Snowshoe Thompson became famous as the “Mailman of Sierras who brought skiing to the West.”
From Fellow Lutherans of America and Scandinanvia

Erected by Fellow Lutherans of America and Scandinanvia.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Communications

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• Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Norwegian-Americans series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1866.

Location. 39° 0.703′ N, 119° 50.696′ W. Marker is in Genoa, Nevada, in Douglas County. It can be reached from Jacks Valley Road (Nevada Route 206). Gravesite and Marker are located near the Northwest corner of the Genoa Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2432 Jacks Valley Road, Genoa NV 89411, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Sierra Nevada,

in the Lake Tahoe Basin,

and in Greater Reno Area.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and 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 walking distance of this marker: John A. “Snow-Shoe” Thompson (here, next to this marker); Eggs for Sale! (approx. 0.4 miles away); Finding Opportunity in a Declining Town (approx. 0.4 miles

Gravesite and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, July 6, 2009

2. Gravesite and Marker

away); The Campbell Property (approx. half a mile away); Judge Daniel Webster Virgin (approx. half a mile away); The Pony Express (approx. half a mile away); John A. “Snowshoe” Thompson (approx. half a mile away); Hans Meyer–Kassel (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Genoa.

Also see . . .
1. Snowshoe Thompson – “Viking of the Sierra”. (Submitted on July 11, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.)
2. Snowshoe Thompson: Legendary Skiing Mailman. "Out of all the skiers who have carved the slopes around Lake Tahoe, the most famous is undoubtedly John "Snowshoe" Thompson, the legendary skiing mailman of the Sierra Nevada. When it came to traveling in the wintry mountains, he was the precursor of the pack train, the stagecoach and the locomotive. It required years before any other form of transportation succeeded him.” (Submitted on July 11, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.)

3. Snowshoe Thompson. A folksong sung by Johnnie Horton telling the story of “Snowshoe” Johnson (Submitted on July 11, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.)

"Snowshoe" Thompson Headstone image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, July 6, 2009

3. "Snowshoe" Thompson Headstone

Note the crossed skis carving on headstone as well as the spelling of "Thomson".

Thompson Family Plot image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, July 6, 2009

4. Thompson Family Plot

Sign at Entrance to Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, July 6, 2009

5. Sign at Entrance to Cemetery

Credits. This page was last revised on November 24, 2019. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,257 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 11, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.

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We Salute John “Snowshoe” Thompson⎯⎯⎯A Tribute From Three Lutheran Churches

We Salute John “Snowshoe” Thompson
⎯⎯⎯
A Tribute From Three Lutheran Churches