Little Known History About Lake Tahoe / A Great Western Trip

Lake Tahoe high in the Sierra Nevada range

The Beauty of Lake Tahoe

Located directly on the boundary between California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe has been a tourist destination just about ever since tourists could regularly travel to it's shores. At one time, people could travel to Tahoe City, California, directly on the lake, by taking the railroad mainline to Truckee, California then riding a narrow gauge train down to Tahoe City. By the turn of the twentieth century, Lake Tahoe became a true tourist destination with small communities dotted around it's shoreline, some with hotels.

Today's Lake Tahoe offers something for everyone, from camping, trail hiking and biking, skiing, rafting, boating, water sports and golf. Lake Tahoe, at an elevation averaging 6,224 feet, offers blue skies and a unique vacation experience.

Below are a few trip stops you may want to add to your lake Tahoe vacation planner.

Lake Tahoe off Tahoe City, CA

The Watson Cabin Living Museum

The Watson Cabin is one of several museums around Lake Tahoe and is located on a bluff above Commons Beach in Tahoe City. Operated by the North Lake Tahoe Historical Society, the museum is a must stop for anyone traveling through the north Lake Tahoe area.

The cabin was constructed in 1909 by Robert Montgomery Watson for his son Robert and his family as a wedding gift. The elder Watson arrived in the Lake Tahoe area in 1875. Like many others from northern California, Watson left the area in 1897 to seek his fortune in the Yukon, and later returned to Tahoe City as a "trail blazer, mountaineer, conservationist, and High Sierra guide.  His name is also seen today at Mt. Watson and Watson Lake.

Watson Cabin

Not only is this structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places but is also known as Tahoe City's oldest structure. The cabin was kept in the Watson family for many years until it was taken over by the North Lake Tahoe Historical Society in the 1970's. The last owner of the Watson Cabin was Mildred Collins, Robert Watson's daughter.

The Watson Cabin was one of the very first structures in Tahoe City to have indoor plumbing. When the cabin was built it contained two bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom upstairs and a sewing rooms. The outdoor porch is on the first floor.

The Watson Cabin is located at 560 North Lake Blvd, Tahoe City, California.

The Steamer "Tahoe"

Known as the largest steamer on Lake Tahoe, the 169 foot long steamer "Tahoe" carried passengers, freight and mail 1896 to 1935.

Steamer "Tahoe" model

The steamer Tahoe was owned by the Bliss family and during it's run was operated by four different captains. Duane L. Bliss, referred to as the “Grand Old Man of Tahoe,” had business interests in lumbering, hotels, streamers, railroads and real estate. It is estimated that the steamer traveled about 14,000 miles every summer. 

After the steamer Tahoe ended it's service in 1935 it was dry docked at Tahoe City. Scrap metal was fetching good prices and rather than having the historic Tahoe scrapped, a Bliss grandson bought the Tahoe as well as two other historic Lake Tahoe vessels and had them moved across the lake to Glenbrook Bay. In August of 1940 the Tahoe was ceremoniously scuttled in about 370 feet of water off Glenbrook. 

The exact location of the Tahoe has been determined (the S.S. Tahoe, sits wedged in sand, facing north, a mile out from Glenbrook Bay on the Nevada side of the lake) and although there were suggestions to bring her back up, the costs to do this appears to be too expensive.

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Gatekeeper's Museum

View Lake Tahoe Steamer History at the Gatekeeper Museum

To learn more about Lake Tahoe steamer history, you'll want to make a stop at Tahoe City's Gatekeeper Museum. Here you'll view model exhibits, photos and artifacts about Lake Tahoe vessels.

There are many other exhibits in this museum regarding early Lake Tahoe including Native American basketry, original firearms, and black bear exhibits and stories. It's a fun and educational visit, is easy to reach, and makes a good family side trip while at Tahoe.

The original Gatekeeper's Cabin was also built by Robert Montgomery Watson. The cabin's purpose was to house the watermaster who regulated the flow of water out of Lake Tahoe into the Truckee River.

The Gatekeeper Museum is located right in town adjacent to the dam. The museum address is 130 West Lake Boulevard, Tahoe City, California.

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, visiting Lake Tahoe is a unique experience. Those who have visited the area likely have returned several times. High in the Sierra Nevada range, Lake Tahoe and it's many communities have plenty to offer the adventurist traveler. It's a beautiful place where recreation and history meet twelve months a year.

(Article and photos copyright 2014 Western Trips)