Donner Summit is grand and unique and the Donner Summit Historical Society's 20 Mile Museum highlights the history and beauty of the Summit.
Interpretive signs have been placed on private commercial property and along Old Highway 40 from the Eagle Lakes exit to over the Summit and below Rainbow Bridge. Each sign highlights history of, displays historical photographs and quotes, tells a good story, and lists activities for that location.
Not only do the signs share, and so highlight the unique history of the Summit, but through the listed activities, they share the beauty of Donner Summit, encourage visitation, and help revitalize the Summit economy which has been on a down hill slide for decades.
The Museum has met with overwhelming community approval and support. Each sign, for example, is sponsored by local businesses and individuals who are paying for the construction and placement of the signs.
The table at right will open any of the signs you would like to look up as PDF's. The actual signs are two feet square. The PDF's however have been reduced in size and resolution to enable easy uploading, just large enough to read and enjoy the photographs.
Read the sign plan & specifications ( 1.3 meg PDF)
See an overall "sign" explaining the idea - reduced in size
Commercial Sponsors:
The Summit Restaurant,
Royal Gorge,
Soda Springs Store,
Sugar Bowl,
Boreal,
Soda Springs Ski Area,
Donner Spitz,
Clair Tappaan,
Donner Summit Area Association
Nyack
Interpretive signs have been placed on private commercial property and along Old Highway 40 from the Eagle Lakes exit to over the Summit and below Rainbow Bridge. Each sign highlights history of, displays historical photographs and quotes, tells a good story, and lists activities for that location.
Not only do the signs share, and so highlight the unique history of the Summit, but through the listed activities, they share the beauty of Donner Summit, encourage visitation, and help revitalize the Summit economy which has been on a down hill slide for decades.
The Museum has met with overwhelming community approval and support. Each sign, for example, is sponsored by local businesses and individuals who are paying for the construction and placement of the signs.
The table at right will open any of the signs you would like to look up as PDF's. The actual signs are two feet square. The PDF's however have been reduced in size and resolution to enable easy uploading, just large enough to read and enjoy the photographs.
Read the sign plan & specifications ( 1.3 meg PDF)
See an overall "sign" explaining the idea - reduced in size
Commercial Sponsors:
The Summit Restaurant,
Royal Gorge,
Soda Springs Store,
Sugar Bowl,
Boreal,
Soda Springs Ski Area,
Donner Spitz,
Clair Tappaan,
Donner Summit Area Association
Nyack
"...inexpressibly comprehensive, grand, and picturesque. After congratulating ourselves upon the safe achievement of our morning feat, and breathing our mules a few minutes, we proceeded on our journey. A mile brought us to a small dimple on top of the mountain, in the centre of which is a miniature lake, surrounded by green grass."
from What I saw in California by Edwin Bryant in 1849 upon reaching Donner Summit
