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Lake Tahoe History and Heritage
Tahoe's shores have attracted summer visitors for thousands of years. The first humans to enjoy the Lake Tahoe Basin were the Native American culture group know as the Washoe. The discovery of stone artifacts and projectile points confirms the Washoes presence 10,00 years ago. They migrated each summer from the Carson Valley area seeking the cooler temperatures, abundant fish and plentiful game of Lake Tahoe. The Washoe women made exceptionally fine baskets of remarkable artistry."Da-ow-a-ga" was the Wahsoe Indian name for Lake Tahoe. The Washoes considered "the jewel of the Sierra" the birthplace of their heritage. The area from Taylor Creek to Camp Richardson was a favorite site. Today they are known as the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California.
Sadly, the Washoe homeland nearly perished in a scant period of time during the Comstock Lode silver and logging boom during the 1860s to early 1880s. The natural resources of the region are still recovering from the mass deforestation that occurred during this relatively brief period of time.
The first recorded sighting of Lake Tahoe by a non-Native American was by John C. Fremont in February of 1844. His exploration party was guided by the legendary scout Christopher "Kit" Carson. The party first viewed part of Lake Tahoe when they arrived at the top of Red Lake Peak, 10,651 feet elevation, at what is now Carson Pass. This area is located 20 miles southwest of South Lake Tahoe.
In 1848 Kit Carson carved a trail over what is now called the Carson Pass. This trail became the main east/west route from Utah to California and was known as the Mormon-Emigrant Trail.
For many years thereafter, the area was virtually ignored. In 1859 the Comstock Lode was discovered in Virginia City, Nevada. During the 1860s Tahoe became the center of a lively commerce involving the silver mines in Virginia City and the Central Pacific Railroad, which was pushing over the Sierra toward the town of Truckee.
Wood was needed to supply the mines, the new boomtowns and the railroad. An extensive logging empire was established on the east shore of the lake from Incline Village to Glenbrook. The loggers clear-cut the entire shoreline until both the silver mines and the demand for timber petered out in the late 1870s to early 1880s. The scars of the logging industry lasted for decades.
By the 1890s Lake Tahoe had become a popular retreat for the wealthy from San Francisco, Sacramento and Virginia City. At this point in history the only industry that showed promise was tourism, so the rush began to build resorts.
In retrospect, from the turn of the 19th century small groups of diverse people discovered the lake's beauty and resources. Native Americans, explorers, early entrepreneurs, Basque sheepherders, Chinese laborers, and society's elite each contributed to the foundation of Tahoe's heritage.
By action of the California state legislature in 1945, Lake Tahoe became the official name of the lake. The Indian word "tahoe" means "big water."
