Donner Summit Historical Society

Read the November 2020 Heirloom Newsletter to find out about piracy on Donner Summit, The House of Vanderford and much more: http://donnersummithistoricalsociety.org//n/November20.pdf

Riding the "upski" tow at Kingvale wasn't exactly convenient nor fun as riders had to sit facing backwards, take their skis off and travel very slowly uphill facing down the slope. Notice the guy in the front of the upski is wedging himself back into the sled. It may have been more thrilling going up, than skiing down. Read about it here: http://donnersummithistoricalsociety.org///december11.pdf

In 1939, Bill Klein invited Hannes Schroll - an Austrian Ski Racer who was planning on being a ski instructor at Yosemite- to Donner Summit to take a look around. The rest is history, and you can read about it on page 12 of the October 2009 Heirloom Newsletter: http://www.donnersummithistoricalsociety.org//october09.pdf

"Digging out the car" at Big Bend Inn, on Highway 40 near Donner Summit, around 1935. Looks like a bit of snow. What kind of car is it? DSHS#0556

Eric Johnson and his images from the 1940's - the 1960's.. Everyone has seen his images, be sure to read all about them here: http://donnersummithistoricalsociety.org//ne/january11.pdf

Summit Valley, Norden CA 1930's. DSHS #0497

Locomotive 3266 at Blue Canon (Canyon) Station in 1921 on the west side of Donner Summit. DSHS#2959

Wintertime photo of auto on the Rainbow Bridge below Donner Summit on highway 40. Can anyone give us a vintage of the vehicle? Postcard says photo was taken Jan 1 1935. DSHS0557

Thornton's Garage Tow Truck winching a vehicle over the side of Highway 40, Donner Summit. Photo taken June 1, 1935 from the Herb & Lena Fredrick Album. DSHS photo #0569

These Highway Maintenance vehicles were used to keep Highway 40 open over Donner Summit in 1936. DSHS#0591

The Norden Store on Donner Summit (Highway 40) on December 2, 1936. Photo #DSHS0599

Rainbow Tavern & Hotel, on highway 40, near Donner Summit, supposedly in the (Edit) 1940's. Can we get some models and vintages of the vehicles to confirm? DSHS #0582

Cisco Grove on Highway 40 near Donner Summit in the 1930's. DSHS#0575

Donner Summit Hotel in the snow. Constructed in 1870 and burned down in 1925. Photo # DSHS2330. Read some of the history here in the February 2011 Heirloom Newsletter: http://donnersummithistoricalsociety.org//n/february11.pdf

An 1866 Map of the Donner Summit area and Serene Lakes (aka Ice Lakes). Fritz Redding was the first settler at Serene Lakes. Read the whole story here: http://www.donnersummithistoricalsociety.org//icebooklet.p