7/10/2015
7/10/2015
7/10/2015
7/10/2015
7/10/2015
Landmark information
- Location:
Donner Memorial SP, Old Hwy 40 (Donner Pass Rd) at I-80 and Truckee exit, Truckee - Plaque:
Other Plaque - Site:
Existing - Date First Visited:
5/24/1997 - Date Most Recently Visited:
7/10/2015 - GPS Coordinates:
N 39 19.434, W 120 13.865 - Other Designations:
National Historic Landmark
National Register of Historic Places
About this landmark
Plaque text:
Donner Party
Near this spot stood the Breen cabin of the party of emigrants who started for California from Springfield, Illinois, in April, 1846, under the leadership of Captain George Donner. Delays occurred and when the party reached this locality, on October 29, the Truckee Pass emigrant road was concealed by snow. The height of the shaft of the monument indicated the depth of the snow, which was twenty-two feet. After futile efforts to cross the summit the party was compelled to encamp for the winter. The Graves cabin was situated about three-quarters of a mile to the eastward, the Murphy cabin about two hundred yards southwest of the monument, and the Donner tents were at the head of Alder Creek. Ninety people in the party and forty-two perished, most of them from starvation and exposure.