My Trip on the Emigrant Trail

The Emigrant Trail Museum

A Museum Dedicated to the Donner Party

As some of you may know, I am a huge history nerd. While my particular interests are in Central and Eastern European history, I do not discriminate, and enjoy all types of history. I believe that history gets a really bad wrap in society; most people find it boring. History most certainly can be boring, but I believe it is boring depending on the way it is presented. Every city and place has an interesting history that is just waiting to be discovered. The trick is to know what interests you and to be more active in learning about it... aka: go out and experience it. Oftentimes, you will be surprised that you do like different aspects of history, if it is taught/shown to you in the right way. 

Since this is one of several posts about my trip home, many of you know I went to visit my brother in Reno, Nevada. On the way home, my mother, nephews, and I stopped at Donner Pass on the Emigrant Tail to visit the museum. We wanted to learn a bit more about that fateful journey of the Donner Party in 1846. 

Front entrance for the Emigrant Trail Museum.

The Donner Party was attempting to get to California from the east. There were several routes that were well established and relatively safe at that point in time. The typical route went from Missouri through Nebraska, Wyoming, and Idaho. In Idaho, travelers would split between the Oregon Trail and California Trail. However, people were always searching out new and faster routes.

Yoke for the oxen.

The Donner Party, though, attempted one of these shortcuts, the Hastings Cutoff, which would end up being detrimental to their trip. The Hastings Cutoff split away from the typical path in Wyoming, adding a smaller mountain range to cross and the deadly Great Salt Lake Desert. While it appeared to be the more direct route, it added more miles and a lot more time to their travels. Therefore, the Donner Party arrived at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains later than year.

Statue inside the museum depicting the travelers. 

Due to some disputes among the travelers, when they arrived at the Sierra Nevada Mountains there was a lot of tension in the group. The journey had been long and arduous with the most treacherous part of their trek still ahead of them. In their attempt to cross the mountain pass, the travelers became trapped by that winter's heavy snowfall.

Wood carving of westward travelers. 

There were several groups of people who had gone ahead to get help for those trapped in the snow. Many were unable to make it through and returned to camp, others died in the attempt to find help. Those who did make it through were unable to return with help, this was on account of the Mexican American War and the harsh weather conditions. 

Person in the wild west.

The families had settled into several cabins that had been built the previous year near Truckee Lake. The winter was very harsh on the travelers and they soon ran out of food supplies, some even resorted to cannibalism for survival.

Patty Reed's doll.

The party was made up of 87 people, consisting of several families, including many children. One of the children, Patty Reed, kept this small doll with her throughout the journey. There is now a book written from the perspective of Patty Reed's doll of the Donner Party's story, named Patty Reeds Doll: The Story of the Donner Party.

Snowshoes for horses. 

Help came in mid-February; a group of people arrived with food and to help people down the mountain. They were shocked to see the conditions that the people were living in and were unable to bring everyone down at once. There ended up being three different relief parties to bring the survivors the rest of the way to California.

Depiction of those in the Donner Party. 

There were only 48 survivors that made it to California. News spread of this event throughout the United States. While migration westward declined over the next several years, it was revived in 1849 with the California Gold Rush. Many people headed westward to get rich!

A lot of snow for this California girl. 

Today the area is named after this party of emigrants. There is Donner Lake, Donner Pass, and Donner Peak in the area and their tale is notorious. 

Nephews at the memorial.

There is a memorial where the party was stranded. The pedestal that holds the statue is 22 feet tall to represent the depth of the snow during the winter of 1846-1847.

Path leading up to the museum.

Additionally, the area is now a popular place for skiers and snowboarders from around the world. If you are ever in the area, I recommend taking an afternoon to check out this awesome little museum and learn a little more about its history. 

Amazing view of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. 

It is always a pleasure to share some of my adventures with our readers! I hope you enjoyed the story and maybe learned something new.

<3 Amy

My Trip to Virginia City

Virgina City, Nevada

Saloons, Mining, and Kitsch 

Still working on posting all of my photos from my trip home in February, so here are a few more! While I was visiting Nevada, my brother took my sister, mother, nephews, and I on a trip to Virginia City. It was such an amazing day with my family and I took some nice pictures around the town to share. Virginia City is an old mining town; it was founded due to the discovery of the Comstock Lode strike of silver there in 1859. It feels like you have entered into the old west when you walk down the street or into any of the delightful shops. Once all of the silver had been mined out in 1898, the town's population greatly declined and now only about 1,000 people live in this well preserved western town. 

As you enter the town from the direction of Reno, you will see the Red Dog Saloon at the start of the main street. This old saloon played host to popular musicians throughout the 1960s and contributed to the psychedelic rock scene. 

The television show Bonanza was set at the Ponderosa Ranch, which is located just outside of Virginia City. It was often referenced in the television show. This has led to a few Bonanza themed delights popping up around the town. 

The streets are lined with antique shops and old saloons that are so nice to look around. 

The Bucket of Blood Saloon was established in 1876 and is a popular site in Virginia City. Despite its name and appearance, it does have the rather charming and quaint feel of an old saloon. 

Having grown up in California, I am no stranger to panning for gold. There are a few locations where they teach young children what it was like to pan for gold during the gold rush. Oftentimes, they put out some fools' gold so the children go home with something to show for all of their hard work. 

Later, we ended up heading into the Ponderosa Saloon to check out the mine tour.

This shot, of my brother helping my nephew peek through a hole in the fence to see where they have the faux gun fights, was too cute not to share. <3

The city is up in the mountains, so you can get an amazing view of the surrounding mountains and valleys below. 

Everyone in line to order up our barbecue.  My burger was rather tasty and they had some amazing tri-tip. 

All of the little shops have such a kitschy feel--full of taxidermy and fools gold. 

This man was making hats in one of the shops. It was such an interesting process that involved a lot of steam, the logistics of which I am still not entirely clear on.

My mother, brother, and nephews were brave enough to enter the mine tour and had a really good time. My sister and I decided to sit it out; I am not so keen on small dark spaces. So, we enjoyed a drink in the saloon while everyone else went into the mine.

If you ever take a trip to Nevada I recommend checking out this charming little city. It was such a fun afternoon and here are a few fun photos to leave you with!

<3 Amy

Antiquing in the 'Biggest Little City in the World'

Antiquing in Reno, Nevada

I recently took a trip to visit my older brother in Reno, Nevada. One thing I love about Reno is all of the great antique malls in the area. So, my mom, brother, and I headed out antiquing one day while I was there. At the top of the agenda was a stop by In-N-Out to prepare for a full day of shopping. 

First we had to get some burgers for energy. 

The next stop was the Virginia Street Antique Mall, which is a standard antique mall: full of furniture, clothes, toys, and many little trinkets. These places can be very overwhelming due to their size and massive inventory. It is important to be patient and give everything a good look.

Virginia Street Antique Mall 

Lovely pieces of furniture

True touch of that Nevada feel. 

I had to take a picture of this lamp. Eeek.

The next place, Somewhere In Time, was right down the street. This place had a special surprise in store for us.

This surprise was the entire room dedicated to the Red Hat Society--wall to wall red hats and dresses. I am such a fan of big crazy hats, so this room was lovely to explore.

All the red a girl could want. 

The third place had a very different feel than the first two. It is called Junkee and is part antique store, thrift shop, and costume shop. I was really looking forward to visiting this store and I was not disappointed. The antique store had so many beautiful items. I would have loved to buy any one of its many pillbox hats. 

Junkee in Reno, Nevada

Antique shop

More of the antique shop

Thrift and costume shop

Awesome melting clock at the entrance (something very Dalí about this piece of art)

I did not get anything this day; I was on a very tight budget for my trip home. However, it was such a great day to get to spend with my brother and my mom. My brother was a good sport throughout the whole ordeal as well (he is not so big on antiquing)--even coining my favorite new term 'scam-tiques' for products that lack legitimacy. If you ever stop by the 'biggest little city in the world,' check out some of the local spots for antiques and thrifting finds.


<3 Amy