Donner Memorial State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Donner Memorial State Park |
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Donner Lake, with Donner Memorial State Park at the far end, right, viewed from near Donner Peak
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 Donner Memorial State Park
Location in California
Donner Memorial State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Nevada and Placer Counties, California, US |
| Nearest city | Truckee, California |
| Area | 3,293 acres (13.33 km2) |
| Established | 1928 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
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Donner Camp
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The Donner Party Memorial at Donner Memorial State Park
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| Nearest city | Truckee, California |
| Area | California |
| Built | 1846 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000218 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | January 20, 1961 |
Donner Memorial State Park is a special place in California, US. It protects the area where the famous Donner Party got stuck during the winter of 1846–1847. This group of pioneers was trying to reach California. They faced extreme challenges because of heavy snow and a lack of supplies. The park is now a National Historic Landmark.
The park is located near Truckee, California. It has about 2.5 miles (4 km) of hiking trails. There are also campgrounds and 3 miles (5 km) of lakefront on Donner Lake. The park covers 3,293 acres (1,333 ha) and was created in 1928.
Contents
Discovering Donner Memorial State Park
Donner Memorial State Park is a great place to learn about history and enjoy nature. You can explore the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains. It's also a place to remember the brave pioneers who traveled west.
The Story of the Donner Party
The Donner Party was a group of families traveling by wagon to California. They were pioneers, hoping for a new life. In October 1846, they reached the Sierra Nevada mountains. But early, heavy snow trapped them. They couldn't cross the Donner Pass.
They were stuck for months in the deep snow. They ran out of food and shelter. Many people did not survive the harsh winter. This event became a famous and tragic part of American history.
Exploring the Park's History
The Visitor Center
The park's visitor center is a great place to start your visit. It has exhibits that tell the story of the area. You can learn about the local Native Americans. There are also displays about the Donner Party and the building of the First transcontinental railroad.
Near the visitor center, you can find the Pioneer Monument. You can also see the spot where the Murphy family's cabin stood. Park staff often lead hikes and special talks. They also host campfires by the museum.
The Pioneer Monument
The Pioneer Monument honors all the pioneers who traveled west. It celebrates those who made the difficult journey across the plains and mountains to reach California. The monument was built near where the Donner Party's cabins were.
Work on the monument started in 1901. It was finished and given to the State of California on June 6, 1918. Some survivors of the Donner Party were even at the dedication ceremony.
The monument has plaques with important messages. One plaque describes the pioneers as:
VIRILE TO RISK AND FIND; KINDLY WITHAL AND A READY HELP. FACING THE BRUNT OF FATE; INDOMITABLE,—UNAFRAID.
Another plaque tells more about the Donner Party's winter:
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 INDICATES 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 WERE IN THE PARTY AND FORTY-TWO PERISHED, MOST OF THEM FROM STARVATION AND EXPOSURE. IN COMMEMORATION OF THE PIONEERS WHO CROSSED THE PLAINS TO SETTLE IN CALIFORNIA. MONUMENT ERECTED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE NATIVE SONS AND THE NATIVE DAUGHTERS OF THE GOLDEN WEST. MONUMENT DEDICATED JUNE 6, 1918
Murphy Cabin Site
From the museum, a short trail leads to a large granite boulder. This boulder was part of a cabin that sheltered members of the Murphy, Pike, Foster, and Eddy families. They stayed here during the winter of 1846–47. A plaque on the rock explains its history. It also lists the members of the Donner Party who were in the cabins and tents.
Moses Schallenberger Cabin Site
You can also find a plaque about Moses Schallenberger. He was an 18-year-old pioneer. In 1844, he and two others built a small cabin near this spot. They were part of the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party. This group was the first to bring wagons over the Sierra Nevada.
Moses stayed alone in the cabin for nearly three months during a harsh winter. He survived by himself before being rescued. His cabin later provided shelter for the Breen family, who were part of the Donner Party. Moses Schallenberger's bravery makes him a true hero of the California Trail.
Images for kids
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Donner Lake, with Donner Memorial State Park at the far end, right, viewed from near Donner Peak
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The Donner Party Memorial at Donner Memorial State Park
