History
Today people travel swiftly along I-80 to their destinations in the Sierra, many times not even staying overnight. When they do stay overnight it is most likely in hotels or rental houses.
It was not always that way. Before I-80 . . . — — Map (db m81970) HM
History
Love - Excitement - Pathos - Humor. It’s all in “The Gold Rush” which was filmed at Sugar Bowl (and Truckee).
“The Gold Rush,” written, produced, directed, and starring Charlie Chaplin was one of . . . — — Map (db m81934) HM
History
Clair Tappaan Lodge was hand-built by a hearty group of Sierra Club volunteers in 1934 as a retreat for hikers, skiers and mountain climbers. This rustic building, consisting of post and beam construction, was designed by Walter . . . — — Map (db m129660) HM
History
The first wagon trains, the first transcontinental railroad, and the first transcontinental highway crossed Donner Summit. So did the first transcontinental airway.
When airplanes were new, pilots flew by the "seat of their pants" . . . — — Map (db m130536) HM
Dedicated to the pioneers who blazed the
Overland Trail through these mountains.
Built by the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads and the California Highway Commission
1925-1926.
This tablet placed by the Historic Landmarks Committee of the . . . — — Map (db m94763) HM
History
“I don’t believe I have adequate words to describe the real beauty of Donner Pass. As we stood looking down I had a floating sensation… I lost all fear as I looked at one of the most beautiful blue lakes (Donner Lake) I have . . . — — Map (db m81894) HM
Beneath this plaque the first transcontinental railroad traversed the mighty Sierra Nevada range. The 1659 foot long summit tunnel took over 15 months of Chinese muscle and sweat to build. The Chinese painstakingly hand drilled, then blasted the . . . — — Map (db m95506) HM
History
Lincoln and James Hutchinson, for whom Hutchinson Lodge is named, were born in the late 1860's in San Francisco of pioneer parents. Both were educated at University of California Berkeley and Harvard. James was a charter member of the . . . — — Map (db m129658) HM
History
William Wilson Wurster was the most “influential unknown architect in California.” He designed many houses and buildings such as Ghirardelli Square, Cowell College at UC Santa Cruz, as well as other U.C. and Stanford . . . — — Map (db m81939) HM
History
The ritual of arriving in early morning by train and taking the 15 minute ride in tractor drawn sleighs was in place for more than ten years after Sugar Bowl opened in 1939. It was the only way to get to Sugar Bowl. It was a cold . . . — — Map (db m81936) HM
Dedicated August 10, 1986 in honor of
Charles Fayette McGlashan
1847-1931
Truckee’s patriarch, historian, author, editor, attorney, legislator, inventor, entomologist and astronomer.
His last public address was given in 1926 at . . . — — Map (db m81893) HM
"If only the Sierra might be pierced." Atlantic Monthly December, 1867
History
"Crazy Judah." Theodore Judah had some strange ideas. He wanted to build a railroad across the continent. People knew it could not be done. The . . . — — Map (db m105198) HM
History
“new addition… modern design… large new ski hut… semi-rustic design… oiled pine walls … ideally suited to skiers’ requirements… central heating… Norden awaits the opening of the winter sports season.” So advertised . . . — — Map (db m81875) HM
History
The Washoe Tribe lived on the eastern face of the Sierra Nevada mountains for more than 6,000 years. They didn’t actually call themselves the Washoe Tribe, though. They called themselves the Waashiw (Wa-she-shu) tribe, meaning . . . — — Map (db m81899) HM
History
The bridge “eliminated for all time the terrors of the Donner grade from the state highway system of California.”
Automobile travel could be a harrying affair in the old days and Donner Summit was a difficult route. . . . — — Map (db m81898) HM
The rocks here are carved with ancient symbols called petroglyphs.
They were created by pecking the surface of the rock with a tool called a hammerstone. These petroglyphs are thought to be several thousand years old. — — Map (db m81931) HM
History
Theodore Judah, who plotted the Central Pacific’s route over the Sierra and for whom Mt. Judah was named, thought it was only the mountains that needed conquering as the Central Pacific headed east to meet up with the Union Pacific. He . . . — — Map (db m81977) HM
History
When Bill Klien, who would transform skiing himself, invited Hannes Schroll to Donner Summit from Yosemite in 1937, the ski industry was about to change. Hannes was a dare-devil champion skier whose yodels as he tore down mountains . . . — — Map (db m81933) HM
History
The current building at the head of Donner Pass on Old 40 was built for the Division of Highways in 1931 to serve as a dormitory for highway workers. That was the first winter the road was plowed and on-call workers needed . . . — — Map (db m81881) HM
History
The coming of the railroad made it easy for well-heeled tourists to visit Donner Summit and with the building of a large hotel, they came. Whole families came to enjoy the summit and stay for weeks at a time.
The first Summit . . . — — Map (db m81880) HM
History
Summit Valley has been the scene of human activity for thousands of years because it is a natural crossing of the Sierra. Native Americans traveled the valley moving from winter to summer residences. They left grinding rocks and . . . — — Map (db m81971) HM
History
It was a race. The Union and Central Pacific Railroads were crossing the continent with steel rails each trying to build the most miles and so get the most money from the government. The rugged Sierra and its winter climate were . . . — — Map (db m81883) HM
History
Because there were three lodges built on Forest Service land in the early 1930’s, they have always been referred to as the Tri-Lodges. The first of the three lodges built was der Naturfreund in 1931 (right). This is a private lodge . . . — — Map (db m81969) HM
History 1866 - Right here
Bam, bam, quarter turn; Bam, bam, quarter turn; Bam, bam, quarter turn; all day long, three shifts a day, day after day, week after week. Chinese workers pounded away at the solid granite. One worker held a star . . . — — Map (db m81878) HM
