Near Soda Springs in Nevada County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Summit City/Meadow Lake

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 3, 2013

1. Summit City/Meadow Lake Marker

Inscription. In June of 1863, the trapper Henry Hartley discovered gold bearing ore here and staked out the Excelsior Company claims. Exaggerated reports and a 1865 market panic in the Comstock mines of Virginia City brought thousands of miners overnight to the supposed “Little Comstock” of Summit City. Within two years an incorporated town, renamed Meadow Lake, grew to encompass 160 acres with 4,000 summer residents and over 500 buildings, including 200 business houses, a stock exchange, daily newspaper, post office, school, breweries and 80 saloons. Streets were laid out grid fashion, with a 8,000 square foot plaza on the lakeshore. An excursion vessel, ferried revelers to four hurdy-gurdy houses at the lake’s upper end. The winter of 1866-1867 brought 30 feet of snow with the “snowshoe express” delivering mail through Cisco. In all, eight stamp mills in a district of 10,910 claims failed to extract the expected gold from its “rebellious ore.” The optimism faded, and the town declined with like rapidity. July of 1869 found 80 residents. By 1873 only Hartley “The Hermit” remained. His grave is on a hillside to the west of town.

Erected 1995

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by E Clampus Vitus, Wm Bull Meek - Wm Moris Stewart Chapter 10, Major Wm. Downie Chapter 1849 & Chief Truckee Chapter 3691.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1863.

Location. 39° 24.577′ N, 120° 30.188′ W. Marker is near Soda Springs, California, in Nevada County. It is on Tahoe National Forest Service Road 843, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Soda Springs CA 95728, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sierra Nevada.

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 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Meadow Lake – Excelsior

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 3, 2013

2. Summit City/Meadow Lake Marker

(here, next to this marker); Meadow Lake (approx. 6.7 miles away); Red Mountain (approx. 6.7 miles away); Rainbow Lodge (approx. 6.9 miles away); Truckee Trail - Ascent to Lake and Valley (approx. 7.1 miles away); Forest Gift Shop, Cisco Grove (approx. 7.1 miles away); Susan's Spot (approx. 7.1 miles away); The Lincoln Highway (approx. 7.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Soda Springs.

More about this marker. Access to Meadow Lake is by way of Henness Pass Road and then Forest Service Road 86. The marker is on the east side overlooking the lake, near the southern end of the campground.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 3, 2013

3. Summit City/Meadow Lake Marker

Meadow Lake is visible in the distance.

Meadow Lake in 1868 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by A.A.Hart, circa na

4. Meadow Lake in 1868

From the Collection of Barry Swackhamer. Click on the image to enlarge.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 9, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 15, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,683 times since then and 78 times this year. Last updated on September 21, 2013, by Leroy Mario Rasi of Freedom, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 15, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.