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

Pioneer Ski Area of America

Squaw Valley, California

Photographed by Syd Whittle, October 21, 2009

1. Pioneer Ski Area of America Marker

Inscription. One thousand competitors from 34 nations came to Squaw Valley to compete in the VIII Olympic Winter Games of 1960. The Games, brought here by Alexander C. Cushing, commemorated a century of sport skiing in America. By 1860 mining towns in the Sierra Nevada, particularly Whiskey Diggings, Poker Flat, Port Wine, Onion Valley, La Porte, and Johnsville, saw the first organized ski clubs and competition in the western hemisphere.

California Registered Historical Landmark No.724
Plaque placed by the California State Park Commission in Cooperation with the California Historical Society and the Organizing Committee, VIII Olympic Winter Games, February 14, 1960. Rededicated by Squaw Valley Ski Corporation, February 1996.

Erected 1960 by California State Park Commission, California Historical Society and the Organizing Committe - VIII Olympic Winter Games. (Marker Number 724.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks series list. A significant historical date for this entry is February 14, 1787.

Location. 39° 11.801′ N, 120° 14.15′ W. Marker is in Olympic Valley, California, in Placer County. It is on Squaw Valley Road 3 miles west

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of California Route 89. Marker is located adjacent to the lobby entrance of the Cable Car Building at Squaw Valley. 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 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Placer County Emigrant Road (approx. 2.2 miles away); Lake Tahoe Railway and Transportation Co. (approx. 2.3 miles away); Allexey W Von Schmidt (approx. 2.3 miles away); Roads and Bridges (approx. 5.3 miles away); Conflict Over Water (approx. 5.3 miles away); The Gatekeeper’s Cabin and Museum (approx. 5.3 miles away); A Tradition of Basketmaking (approx. 5.3 miles away); Lake Tahoe (approx. 5.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Olympic Valley.

Regarding Pioneer Ski Area of America. This site was designated as California Registered Historical Landmark No. 724 on January 18, 1960.

Also see . . . The 1960 U.S. Hockey Team. "The phrase "U.S. men's hockey gold medal" usually conjures up visions of Lake Placid, of goaltender Jim Craig draped in the Stars and Stripes searching for his father, or announcer Al Michaels asking if we 'believe in miracles.'" But 1980 was not the first time the United States acheived Olympic Hockey Gold. (Submitted on October 21, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.)

Additional keywords.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, October 21, 2009

2. Pioneer Ski Area of America Marker

Olympics

Squaw Valley image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, October 21, 2009

3. Squaw Valley

The tower at the top of the mountain is for the Cable Car Lift.

Squaw Valley - Site of the VIII Winter Games - 1960 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, October 21, 2009

4. Squaw Valley - Site of the VIII Winter Games - 1960

The snow seen on the mountain is from an early October storm.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 24, 2017. It was originally submitted on October 21, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,570 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 21, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.