In the late 1800's, western towns were looking for a different way to get light, that wouldn't cause fires. With the invention of the electric light bulb, the race was on to bring electricity to the towns. At first direct current (DC) supported by Thomas Edison was used, but it quickly became apparent that Nicola Teslas alternating current was more efficient. To create the electricity in the Truckee area they used the power of the river. This presentation discusses various types of hydro-electric plants and how the flumes were integral to the system. The presentation also discusses some of the personalities of the Truckee power corporations. Lastly, the presentation discusses how limitations in the early systems designs were overcome by the creation of a public utility district in 1927 leading to a more reliable electicity supply.

Dr. Steve Edelman and Dan Cobb, President of the Truckee Donner Railroad Society, present a detailed look at the Glenbrook lumber and fluming operations that provided the wood for the Nevada Comstock boom from 1873 to 1898. The presentation covers the background leading to the formation of the Carson and Tahoe Lumber and Fluming Company (C&TL&FC). It then discusses the operations and how logs were harvested around Lake Tahoe and floated to Glenbrook, Nevada. At Glenbrook, the mill created the required lumber. The lumber was hauled up to the top of Spooner Summit in the Carson Range and was then transferred to the flumes, where the lumber was sent to a spur line of the V & T railroad. The V & T hauled the load from Carson City to Virginia City for use shoring the mines, creating building, and providing power and heat for the city. Dan and Steve then provide evidence of the C&TL&FC railroad bed using historical records and LIDAR generated maps. They show field research of their Tahoe Narrow Gauge railroad as it exists today. The presentation closes with an invitation to join Dan Cobb on a three guided tours this summer at Hobart Mills, Donner Summit and Glenbrook.

The building of the railroad was a monumental feat. Capturing its construction and the stories associated in photos is even better. Join us in seeing how a thought became reality in merging our country via the Union Pacific’s perspective of the transcontinental railroad.

It’s easy to overlook the fact that we stand on the "shoulders of giants", but recently Donner Summit has received national recognition from three very different organizations. This video discusses the background and significance of these milestones.

Presenters include Jerry Blackwill, president of the Museum of Truckee History (MoTH), and the former president of the Truckee Donner Railroad Society. Next, Bill Oudequeest, of the Donner Summit Historical Society speaks to the exuberance of completing the First Transcontinental Railroad in 1869, quoting timely newspaper quotes. Lastly, Dave DePuy speaks to the brilliant civil engineering that the the Summit Tunnel complex represents including the first use of nitroglycerin to build a railroad tunnel.

In the late 1800's logging towns sprung up around Northern California and Nevada. In this presentation, created by Judy DePuy of the Truckee-Donner Historical Society and the Museum of Truckee History, daily life in Hobart Mills, an unusual logging town, is revealed through recollections of residents. The presentation primarily covers the town's formation in 1896 to its collapse in 1936.

Andrew Saunders, of the Lincoln Highway Association, CA Chapter, gives a history of the Lincoln Highway over the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Heidi Sproat of the Truckee Donner Historical Society introduces the society's image collection. Heidi explains how the images are currated and analyzed to provide their context in Truckee's history.