Lake Tahoe, a Gem to Behold

Lake Tahoe has had many names since its discovery by the Washoe Indians. The Washoe were the lake's earliest admirers and called it, Da-ow-a-ga, or "edge of the lake". Eventually, explorers arrived and the peaceful silence surrounding Lake Tahoe was broken. Explorers being unaccustomed to the native dialect, interpreted the name as "Tahoe". When John Fremont and Kit Carson came through the area, Fremont honored a French botanist who had accompanied him on an earlier expedition and "Mountain Lake" was born. This name held until 1870 when the California Legislature renamed the lake in honor of its third governor who led a rescue party to Lake Tahoe in 1852 to save a group of snowbound travelers. We would be visiting Lake Bigler today had he not fallen into disfavor after being accused of being a Southern sympathizer following the outbreak of the Civil War. Again, the lake would be renamed. Many names were suggested and the task was given to a mapmaker with the Department of the Interior, William Henry Knight. He consulted with Dr. Henry DeGroot, a California writer and in 1945, Lake Tahoe became the official name of this beautiful lake because he believed the name meant "big water" or "high water" in the native Washoe Indian language. The name had come full circle.

Soon after the pioneers' arrival, silver was discovered in the Sierras. Fortune seekers scurried to the area in the 1860s pursuing their dream to "Strike it Rich". Soon there were so many pioneers entering the region, "Bonanza Road" was forged across the mountains. This road was later named Highway 50. Way stations, stables and tollhouses sprang up to serve these pioneers and to collect fares from the travelers.

The area was not only rich in silver; it was rich in timber. Due to the number of settlers, the forests were a valuable resource to supply fuel and support the labyrinth of mines being constructed beneath Virginia City. The forests were heavily logged in the late 1800s resulting in forest overharvesting, slowed only by the decline of the Comstock Lode.

By 1900, word of this beautiful lake reached the elite families in San Francisco. The wealthy were looking for a new vacation spot so they rushed to stay at the area's new plush hotels.

The first gaming establishment opened its doors in 1944. Harvey's Wagon Wheel Saloon and Gambling Hall may have been the first, but competition grew in the 1950s. Visitors tested their luck, another hope to "Strike it Rich". It wasn't long until hotels, casinos, and ski resorts were drawing millions of visitors yearly. Still, the main attraction continues to be the restful silence of the wilderness and the awe-inspiring beauty of this unique and special place, Lake Tahoe.

In 1960, the Winter Olympic Games were held in Squaw Valley and Lake Tahoe had claimed a permanent place on the map as the skiing center for the West. Today the Basin has evolved into a world class recreation destination, and millions enjoy the beauty and serenity of Lake Tahoe; the live entertainment; the many ski slopes and the multitude of attractions that make up the area.