Truckee-Donner Historical Society
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Welcome to Truckee-Donner Historical Society  Updated HCS 9/3/2021
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Members and community members:  We are hoping to get our Truckee-Donner Historical Society Joseph Research Library Cabin ready to execute some serious deferred maintenance because of the ever-increasing dangers of high winter thaw and flooding of our cabin.  We have had some challenging weather and equipment issues of late which are now repeatedly threatening our Cabin which houses Truckee’s largest collection of historical photos, maps, books, articles and clippings available and open to the public.
Please contact us if you are interested in assisting us in this most important work by emailing gzirbel@truckeehistory.org .
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 7/16/2021 Update on Vets Hall Application National Historic Recognition ...
READ MORE and Approval letter. 

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Scoring the ice


​Latest history article in Sierra Sun
         Truckee Ice and the Pacific Fruit Express          

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Donner Party Hike - September 18-19, 2021 unfortunately CANCELLED again due to closure of Tahoe National Forest, smoke and air quality from both the Dixie and Caldor Fires. 
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We are pleased to report that from 11 am - 5 pm weekends only until we have more docent participation, the Museum of Truckee History (MoTH) will be open. 
In the wake of renewed COVID-19 recommendations and restrictions, the safety of our volunteers AND our visitors, unfortunately, the Joseph Research Library Research Cabin and the Old Jail Museum continue to be closed to the public.  However, private tours may be arranged by emailing info@truckeehistory.org.
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We are still doing our utmost to answer questions addressed to us at info@truckeehistory.org. 
Please check back here at this website for any updates. Your TDHS volunteers
Small group tours may be available for the Old Jail Museum, but you must first check with (530) 559-2378* 
to see if we are allowed to open.

* Note, the phone may be answered as Truckee Cemetery District but it is the correct number.                  5/2/2021
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We appreciate the faithful support of our historical society members and of visitors to our website. We are offering an additional way for you to support the work of the society through monthly patronage, at an amount that fits your budget. Annual memberships are not going away!
​You can be a member with an annual payment of dues or with an automatic electronic donation to the society. We receive no funding from federal, state, or local government, so your support is essential to the work of keeping Truckee history alive.  Thank you!!

To become a TDHS member ...
OR
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In case you are not yet a member of our Truckee-Donner Historical Society, you may have missed our most recent email news blast about all that is happening behind the covid scenes.  
We have been indeed been very busy.
Here is a link to our most recent July 2021 enews blast.  Enjoy!
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Our TDHS Reference Book List has been updated as of June 22, 2021.  Please check it out. 
This list now includes all the books donated by Tom Macaulay ("Reno Iceman") and the additional recent book donations from Bob Bell, currently Executive Vice President of the Truckee Donner Railroad Society.
There are currently twenty-two categories of books in our collection: Ag State of Nevada, American Indians, California History, Chinese, Donner Party and Emigrant Trails Report, Ghost Towns, Ice - courtesy Tom Macaulay, Journals/ Magazines, Lake Tahoe, Miscellaneous, Nevada County, Railroads or trains, References, Sales Catalogs, Truckee, Truckee:  Reports, Truckee:  Special Interest, United States, US & Western, Winter Sports, and Winter Sports and Squaw Valley.  Take a peek at our ever-expanding collection.
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TDHS does not accept responsibility for the accuracy of the information in posted articles to this website.  Articles are posted for informational, educational, and investigative content - and suggestions.  TDHS retains the right to republish submitted material.
Please contact TDHS for permission to use any content in this publication. 
​By publishing these articles, TDHS does not agree nor endorse any of the opinions expressed by the authors. 



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Who We Are - About Us
As volunteers for this non profit 501(c)(3) organization, we are stewards of a number of unique physical assets (see below). The TDHS invites you to join with us in the preservation and maintenance of these irreplaceable historical venues, and at the same time have lots of fun in the process discovering our Truckee, California heritage.
Our MISSION is to discover, procure and preserve whatever may relate to the aboriginal, natural, civil, literary, and ecclesiastical history of the Town of Truckee and surrounding area.  Our VISION is to preserve and protect the history of Truckee.
We are a small group of very dedicated volunteers who love Truckee and its rich history, and who continue to serve in whatever capacities are required to continue our mission.

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Truckee-Donner Historical Society was founded July 24, 1968 to preserve the history of the Truckee - Donner area. Besides maintaining the historic Joseph Research Cabin (the Gateway Cabin), the Society is also responsible for operating the Old Jail Museum which was built in 1875.  The Society maintains the Community Memorial Garden including the Memorial Arch behind the Old Jail Museum, the Donner  Cross, and Schaffer Cemetery.  (For a brief description of where the Cabin originated, please see this link.) As of May 8, 2021, the Society also co-chairs the operation of the Museum of Truckee History, located in downtown Truckee, at the east end of the Truckee Train Depot.

We participate in several Events during the course of the year, including the Old Timers' Picnic.  Our research historians write articles on Truckee's History and the surrounding areas and document oral histories.  We have several books on local Truckee history for sale on our Publications page and we also have Photos of the Truckee - Donner area which can be purchased.  Please find a sampling of our numerous historic prints on our Photos page.  Please take the time to browse both. You can also view our ever growing collection of images available for viewing online at this link.  We have over 1,800 images so far and are still uploading.  Take a walk back in time!!

If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to our Historical Society please visit our Donate page.
 
Directions to the Joseph Research Library, 
Truckee, CA
One block off Donner Pass Road, adjacent to Meadow Park; 10115 Donner Trail Road
Hours:  Generally Thursdays, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Telephone No.:  (530) 582-0893
Directions to the Old Jail Museum
Corner of Jibboom and Spring Streets, in Historic Downtown Truckee,
1 block from Donner Pass Road and Commercial Row;
10142 Jibboom Street
See the Old Jail Museum page for hours


Mailing Address:  P.O. Box 893, Truckee, CA  96160

We always encourage our readers to contact us directly if you notice something not quite right or that needs correction.  

We Would Love to Have You Visit Soon!  Please stop by the Joseph Research Library Cabin most Thursdays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. where our volunteers are hard at work.


Hours

Joseph Research Library Cabin
Open most Thursdays
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Telephone

P.O. Box 893
Truckee, CA  96160
(530) 582-0893

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