Emigrant Trail Museum - Donner Party
Posted on February 27, 2008
The Emigrant Trail Museum at the park is open year round and includes exhibits about the human and natural history of this area.
The Emigrant Trail Museum was completed in 1962 after 15 years of effort by local citizens, park staff and legislators. Open all year, the museum includes exhibits about the natural history of the Truckee Basin, local Native American life, the overland immigration of the 1840s, the Donner tragedy, construction of the transcontinental railroad, lumbering and ice harvesting.
The museum store featues books on the Donner Party and Emigrant Trail, local natural history and recreation and related items. The Pioneer Monument, located near the museum, was erected in honor of all who made the difficult trek across the western plains and mountains to reach California during the 1840s. Work on the monument began Donner Lake in 1901, when the Native Sons of the Golden West purchased the site and constructed the stone base on which the bronze statue stands today. The monument was completed and officially dedicated June 6, 1918.
This is the site of the Breen Cabin, one of the structures used by members of the Donner Party during the winter of 1846-1847. The Murphy cabin site is located 200 yards south of the museum. It was built against a large rock that formed the west end of the cabin. The cabin was built in November 1846, and was approximately 25 feet long and 18 feet wide. It was cold and damp, with an earthen floor. Sixteen members of the Murphy, Foster and Eddy families spent the winter in this cabin.
A gentle, self-guided nature trail starts near the museum and makes a loop through the forest. Printed trail guides are available at the museum and entrance station. An easy, 1-mile lakeside interpretive trail starts in the lagoon portion of the day-use area and continues along the lake.
» Filed Under Sightseeing Tags: Tags:Donner, Donner Party, Emigrant Trail Museum, gold, Tahoe
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