Truckee-Donner Historical Society
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Welcome to Truckee-Donner Historical Society  Updated HCS 1/13/2023
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New article - Serendipity!
Jax Gingerbread House
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Look at our fabulous new acquisition for preserving - and digitizing - records of Truckee's vibrant history!
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  • On another note, former Vice President of the Truckee-Donner Historical Society in the 1980s, Guy H. Coates, who authored countless articles on our website and for the Sierra Sun newspaper, has written a book called The Blacksmith.  You might be interested in it as Guy's perspective comes with personal historical experience in our mountain town. 
  • The Blacksmith is about Travis Cole who rescues a young enslaved man being brutally whipped by a sadistic constable in post-revolutionary South Carolina. Thus begins their courageous journey into the Ohio wilderness with the hope of seeking a new life on the edge of civilization. Travis's heroic courage continues through the War of 1812 and carries forward through the lives of his sons, John, James, and grandson, Garrett Cole, who pursues two murderous outlaws into the wild west, finding himself pushed down a trail of bloody revenge through wide-open cow towns. Along the way, he encounters several historic characters.  A story of true courage, relentless suspense and unforgettable drama.  

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Update on our Map Digitization Progress - as of December 2022.  See this article.
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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 scenes.  
We have been indeed been very busy.
Here is a link to our most recent January 1, 2023 enews.  Enjoy!

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Our Museum of Truckee History is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from
10 am - 4 pm depending on docent availability. Please call first: (530) 582-0893.

The Joseph Research Library is open again most Thursdays, 10 am - 2 pm. Call first.
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We could REALLY use some docent volunteer assistance with our scheduled June elementary school children visits to Old Truckee
Jail Museum and our new Museum of Truckee History (MoTH).  If you can help us out, even if only for a few hours,
PLEASE contact us at info@truckeehistory.org,
or call us at (530) 582-0893. 
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Become a Member today! Some of the benefits of Membership is that you will get advance notice of
TDHS-sponsored programs, new article postings, discount on book offerings, and the knowledge that you are helping to keep Truckee History Alive! Please join us!

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Don't forget to check the More ... tab at the top and go to Links to Other articles for more information.
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Truckee Veterans Memorial Building and Rocking Stone Tower plaque dedication was held at Vets Hall on Veterans Day Nov. 11, 2021, recognizing a National Register of Historic Places listing.   Details ...
Dedication was hosted by American Legion Post 439.      Link to dedication program.
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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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Museum of Truckee History (MoTH) now has its own website.  Please see this link for more details.
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The Museum of Truckee History (MoTH) IS open now with scheduled private tours, AND Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 am - 4 pm, depending on docent availability.  The Joseph Research Library Research Cabin and the Old Truckee Jail Museum ARE open to the public.  Private tours may still be arranged by emailing MoTHTour@truckeehistory.org or info@truckeehistory.org.
​Call (530) 582-0893.
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We finally have our phone number back in business !  This time, it's a cell phone so we'll be able to answer questions much easier.  We are answering questions addressed to us at info@truckeehistory.org. 
Small group tours may be available for the Old Truckee Jail Museum, but please check first with us at
(530) 582-0893
 to see if we are open and volunteer staffed.
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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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Our TDHS Reference Book List was recently updated as of November 27, 2022.  Please check it out. 
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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 (TDHS) 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 Truckee Jail Museum which was built in 1875.  The Society maintains the Community Memorial Garden including the Memorial Arch behind the Old Truckee 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. Most recently (2022), TDHS was deeded a two acre parcel within the area known as 'Truckee Springs.'  This parcel, now mostly pond, is the site of Truckee's Second "Ice Palace", part of Truckee's Winter Carnival efforts, was built in 1913, but destroyed by fire in 1915. 

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 2,300 !!!! 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 Truckee 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 Truckee 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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