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Museum of Truckee History
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Truckee Museum of History opens
he town of Truckee is rich in history. Prehistoric nomadic tribes once sumT mered in locations around Truckee. ese tribes are believed to be ancestors of the Washoe, Maidu and Paiute tribes. In 1866, the rst white emigrants settled in the area.
A new Museum of Truckee History recently opened in the train depot in downtown Truckee to illuminate the town’s rich history. e project is a collaborative e ort of Truckee-Donner Historical Society and Truckee Donner Railroad Society. e two organizations and a host of volunteers have spent years of hard work and research to bring Museum of Truckee History to life.
STORY & PHOTOS BY PRIYA HUTNER
When the Truckee Chamber of Commerce outgrew its space in e Depot, the historical societies knew they had found a home for the museum. It took six months to renovate the space.
I met Greg Zirbel, president of TruckeeDonner Historical Society, for a tour of the museum, which is housed in original depot built in 1901.
“It’s been a train stop since the train started rolling in 1868,” said Zirbel, who is excited to nally nish the project. ere are nine exhibits in the museum that take visitors on a journey back in time. Each display has a 27-inch touchscreen monitor that o ers a slice of Truckee history.
When you enter the museum, the rst room is the trainmaster’s o ce. is room features furniture and artifacts from the original depot, including a potbelly stove from 1901. Each exhibit depicts a di erent era of Truckee history. ere is a display that examines the lives of Native Americans who lived in the area. e life of the Chinese immigrants who worked on the railroad is also exhibited.
Zirbel walked me through the railway exhibit, which examines the railroad’s history. Maps and model trains depict the stories and glimpses of passengers past and present.
Exhibits highlight the history of the lumber and timber industry, which was a vital industry in Truckee in the 19 th Century. Tools and ice picks from that era hang on the wall. Visitors will be able to learn about Truckee’s ice industry and ice production that occurred from 1863 to 1926. A video from that period shows men cutting blocks of ice. ere is also an exhibit that features the history of Boca Brewery that was established in 1876. e brewery changed the beer industry in California.
For ski and winter sports enthusiasts, there is an exhibit that explores the humble beginnings of winter sports in Truckee.
“ ere was the ice-skating rink and the ice palace that burned down in 1914,” said Zirbel.
A model of Boca Brewery.
e exhibit also provides a glimpse into Charles McGlashan’s legacy of winter sports in Truckee. e Great Truckee Ice Carnival featured cross-country and shortdistance ski jumping and tobogganing. e opening of the museum was initially planned for May 10 on the 151 st anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad,
Matchstick releases ‘Huck Yeah!’ teaser
Matchstick Productions announces its 2020 ski movie “Huck Yeah!” with a teaser available now.
Watch the teaser at TheTahoeWeekly.com
“In a world with more spends than sends, sometimes you just have to say, ‘Huck, Yeah!,” according to Matchstick.
The fi lm will feature the skills of Mark Abma, Michelle Parker, Sam Kuch, Eric Hjorleifson, McKenna Peterson, Chris Rubens, Arianna Tricomi, Karl Fostvedt, Lucas Wachs, Lucy Sackbauer, Connery Lundin, Bobby Brown, The Blondes, Tonje Kvivik, Emily Childs and Janelle Yipper. | matchstickpro.com
but due to the pandemic, the opening was
LEFT TO RIGHT: 1888 rail road map display in the museum; Greg Zirbel rings the train bell; Winter in Truckee, circa 1907 | Courtesy Mark McLaughlin
put on hold until the rst week in July. e museum will be open ursdays to Mondays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Read more about Truckee’s railroad history at TheTahoeWeekly.com
e Old Jail Museum on Jibboom Street and Caboose Museum located in the Depot parking lot will continue to be open on a limited basis as part of the historical society. | truckeehistory.org, truckeedonnerrailroadsociety.com
Wildcreek Golf Course reopens
Wildcreek Golf Course in Sparks, Nev., has reopened with a family-friendly Executive 9 and the Creek Six, a quick and fun way to get in a full-golf experience over lunch or after work.
Read the 2020 Tahoe Sierra Golf Guide at TheTahoeWeekly.com
There is one Par 3, one Par 5 and four Par 4s that with multiple tee positions can give players an 18-hole track measuring between 5,500 and 6,700 yards old favorites in a different confi guration adds up to a par 72 for 18 holes. All tee times will be fi rst-come, fi rst-served. | wildcreekgolf.org
