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

Luther Canyon

(Fay Canyon)

Photographed by Syd Whittle, August 16, 2010

1. Luther Canyon Marker

Inscription. Luther Canyon, west of this site, takes its name from Ira M. Luther, who from 1858-1865 had a sawmill there. The house behind the marker was his home. He was a delegate to the second Nevada Territorial Legislature. After 1865, the canyon came to be known as Horse Thief Canyon, because of the “business” of John and Lute Olds, owners of the next ranch south. Besides operating a station along the emigrant trail for a number of years, they rustled horses from emigrants. The animals were sent up the canyon to drift over the ridge into Horse Thief Meadows. After resting and feeding, the horses were driven down to Woodsfords Canyon to sell to other emigrants. A prospector called Sawtooth was alledgedly murdered and buried in the barn south of the Luther house. Sam Brown, a notorious bad man was shot and killed in front of the Olds barn in 1861 by a man he threatened. “Lucky Bill” Thorington, implicated in a murder in California for which he was hanged by vigilantes in 1858, had a ranch two and a half miles to the south----and the pioneers called the school district “Fairview”.

Erected by Division

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of Historical Preservation and Archeology, Carson Valley Historical Society and Fred Dressler. (Marker Number 118.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1865.

Location. 38° 52.225′ N, 119° 48.566′ W. Marker is near Gardnerville, Nevada, in Douglas County. It is on Foothill Road (State Highway 206) north of Leealan Drive, on the right when traveling north. Marker is 10.5 miles south of Carson City in the Carson Valley. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gardnerville NV 89460, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Sierra Nevada,

in the Lake Tahoe Basin,

and in the 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 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Carson Trail - Upland Travel (about 400 feet away, measured

Photographed by Syd Whittle, August 16, 2010

2. Luther Canyon Marker

The Sam Brown barn is seen in the background.

in a direct line); Sheridan (approx. 2.3 miles away); Brockliss Road (approx. 3.2 miles away); Mottsville (approx. 4½ miles away); Hiram Mott (approx. 4½ miles away); Farmer’s Telephone Company (approx. 5.8 miles away); Record Courier Building (approx. 5.8 miles away); Ritchford Hotel (approx. 5.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gardnerville.

Also see . . . New Amended Text for Marker. The Nevada State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) recently updated the text of the roughly 260 state historical markers in Nevada. The Nevada SHPO placed the amended text of each individual marker on its website and will change the actual markers in the field as funding allows. Minor changes have been made to this marker for grammar, readability, and content. The link will take you to the Nevada SHPO page for the marker with the amended text. (Submitted on October 25, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.)

Sam Brown Barn and House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, August 16, 2010

3. Sam Brown Barn and House

Luther Canyon As Seen From the Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, August 16, 2010

4. Luther Canyon As Seen From the Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2010, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,224 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 17, 2010, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.