Pollock Pines in El Dorado County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Miwok and Maidu Peoples

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, November 20, 2024

1. The Miwok and Maidu Peoples Marker

Inscription.
Before the Gold Rush these lands were home to the Miwok (Mewuk) and Maidu (My-due) tribes. Summer camps and villages were scattered throughout the area. The Miwok village of CHU'NI, also known as TGON'O by local Maidu, is today inundated by the waters of Jenkinson's Lake, in the Arrowhead campground at Sly Park.

The Sly Park area Indians hosted a major annual event which brought traders from the Wintun, Shastan, Plains Miwok, Costanoan and Yokut Tribes. From the Eastern Sierra passes came the Mono, Washoe and Paiute, with 4000 or more Native Americans attending each year. Bark houses were common among foothill Indians. Such houses remained in use by local Indians along Stark's Grade and Sturdevant Ridge into thevearly 1900's before vanishing in 20th Century El Dorado County forever.
Historian Anthony Belli

Sponsors:
Bill and Donna Bergmeister

This mural is dedicated in memory of our beloved son, Kurt William Bergmeister. January 17, 1966-July 3, 1986 El Dorado High School - 1984
Lance Corporal, USMC-Semper Fidelis
Kurt loved his family and friends and enjoyed the Sierra, especially Pollock Pines and Sly

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Park areas with its hunting, fishing and skiing.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant day of the year for for this entry is January 17.

Location. 38° 45.766′ N, 120° 34.681′ W. Marker is in Pollock Pines, California, in El Dorado County. It is on Pony Express Trail, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6462 Pony Express Trail, Pollock Pines CA 95726, 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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Logging in El Dorado County

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, November 20, 2024

2. The Miwok and Maidu Peoples Marker

(here, next to this marker); The California Gold Rush (here, next to this marker); The Mormon Emigrant Trail (here, next to this marker); Bullion Bend Robbery (here, next to this marker); Johnson Cutoff - Took the Hangtown Road (within shouting distance of this marker); In Memory of the Bravery of Our Pioneer Officers (approx. 0.9 miles away); Carson Trail - To Pleasant Valley (approx. 1.6 miles away); Carson Trail - Junction (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pollock Pines.

Another marker is no longer nearby. The Pony Express (was here, next to this marker but has been confirmed missing).

Credits. This page was last revised on August 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 28, 2024, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. This page has been viewed 623 times since then and 74 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 28, 2024, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.