Heritage Trail 2019!

Hello Heritage Trail Travelers!

We are still setting the dates for this year's Heritage Trail but we wanted to share some other key dates with all of you.  This year is the 150th anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad and to commemorate this significant milestone, many of the museums and historical societies we work with have scheduled some key events that you might be interested in attending.

The events run from April through September and are listed below.  As more information becomes available, this list will be edited and modified, so please keep checking back!

Transcontinental Railroad Activities 2019

April 23, Union Pacific will park a special rail car where Atlantic and Vernon Street meet in Historic Roseville. The railcar will house beautiful photographs, interactive displays and other pertinent information regarding the Transcontinental Railroad and its significance. Event is open to the public and free – 9:00am – 3:00pm.

Saturday, May 4: Roseville Historical Society at the Carnegie Museum. Festivities center around the unveiling of “The Rail of Two Cities” display by the Roseville Roundhouse Model Railroad Club. The display depicts the 1869 Transcontinental line going through Roseville and Rocklin – 10:00am to 3:00pm.

May 10 – Labor Day Donner Summit – Truckee Transcontinental Railroad Sesquicentennial Celebration. May 10 Noon Ribbon Cutting Kickoff at Truckee Train Depot. Reception – 12:00pm.

Saturday, May 11: Dedication of the Transcontinental Railroad Plaque will occur at the old Railroad Depot in Rocklin by the Rocklin Historical Society. Rocklin History Museum Tour will include the display “The Rail of Two Cities” which depicts the 1869 Transcontinental line going through Roseville and Rocklin – 11:00am.

May 11, History Talk: The Meaning of the Railroad. Presented by Jerry Blackwill of the Truckee Donner Railroad Society at the Truckee Tahoe Airport Conference Room – 7:00pm – 8:00pm.

Saturday, May 18: 150th Anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad. Presented by Phil Sexton of the California State Parks at the Gold Rush Museum (601 Lincoln Way in Auburn) - 1:00pm - 2:30pm.

May 18, History Talk, Sierra Speaker Series. Norm Sayler will speak about the history of Old Highway 40 and the Impact on this area at Donner State Park – 5:30pm.

May 20th, Plaque Dedication: George Wyman, First Motorcycle Rider over Donner Summit and going Cross Country. The George A. Wyman Memorial Project (website)  at the downtown Visitor's Center in Truckee. There will be a commemorative motorcycle ride from the site of the old Summit Hotel (across from Donner Ski Ranch) to the Visitors Welcome Center at the Old Train Depot in Truckee. Any/All riders are invited to participate. Dedication starts at noon. 

June 1, Historical Talk: “The Firsts”. Presented by Bill Oudegeest of the Donner Summit Historical Society at the Truckee Tahoe Airport Conference Room. This presentation will be regarding the Major events that were the “First” to occur over Donner Summit. This will include information about the motorcycle, bicycle and automobile – 7:00pm.

June 8, History talk: The Story of Tunnel 6. Presented by Bill Oudegeest of the Donner Summit Historical Society at the Clair Tappan Lodge. This presentation will the story of Tunnel Six, otherwise known as the Chinese Tunnel. This is the primary tunnel on Donner Summit and was dug by hand using Chinese Workers. NOTE: A BBQ will follow hosted by Clair Tappan Lodge, Ticket information for the dinner and RSVP to follow soon – 5:00pm.

June 10: Locomotive Technologies. Presented by Jerry Blackwill at Pizza on the Hill, hosted by Mountain Minds Mondays. 6:00pm is Pizza ($5.00) then the talk at 6:45pm.

June 15th, Interpretive walk: Boca Townsite. Presented by Nelson Van Gundy of the Truckee Donner Railroad Society. The talk will revolve around the historical data not only on the town but the Ice Industry and the Railroad both Standard Gauge and Narrow Gauge from the Logging Industry. Time: 10:00am.

June 15th, Historical Talk: Boca Brewery and Steam and Beer. Venue: Donner State Park Visitors Center. Speaker, Dave Burkhart, Anchor Steam Company. Dave will be speaking on the history of the Boca Brewery and how that history and product plays into a currently sold product created by Anchor Steam Company. (Video) - 5:30pm.

June 22nd, Historical Talk: The Chinese and their importance to the Railroad. Presented by Bill George at the Donner State Memorial Park Visitors Center - 5:00 pm.

June 29th, Historical Talk: Snow Sheds-Fires and other Related Subjects at the Tahoe Truckee Airport Conference Room. Presented by Bill Oudegeest of the Donner Summit Historical Society - 7-8pm.

July 4th, Annual 4th of July Parade from Truckee High School to Church Street in Truckee. Parade starts at the High School/Elementary School area at 10:00 am. The theme this year will be the 150th Anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad and Railroad.

July 13th, Truckee Tahoe Airshow at the Truckee Tahoe Airport. Come see us on the Tarmac – 9:00am – 3:00pm.

July 13th, Historical Talk: Ice Industry in the Truckee Area. Presented by Bill Oudegeest and Chaun Mortier at the Truckee Tahoe Airport Conference Room - 7:00 pm.

July 18th, Historical Talk: Jerry Blackwill will present the History of the Construction of the Railroad at a Pay Dinner for the Tahoe Donner Giving Fund, Northwoods Lodge. - 5:30pm.

July 20, Annual “Old Timers Picnic” at the Chief Truckee Picnic Area, Regional Park. Come join us for a great day of conversation, memories and reunions! Sponsored by the Truckee Donner Historical Society. Bring your lunch, memories and curiosity! 11:00am – 3:00 pm

July 20, Historical Talk: Lincoln Highway. Presented by the Lincoln Highway Association at the Donner State Park Community Room. Discussion of the progression of transportation from the Railroad to the Lincoln Highway – 5:30pm.

July 27th, Historical Talk: Logging Railroads. Presented by Nelson Van Gundy at the Truckee Tahoe Airport Conference Room. A discussion on how the logging industry was tied to the development of the Railroad and the surrounding areas – 7:00pm.

July 28th. Trestle Tour Drive/Walk. Sponsored by Truckee Donner Railroad Society. This event will involve driving from Downtown Truckee to Various Locations to view old Logging Trestles and educational Talks regarding the logging Industry between Hobarts Mills to Boca. Bring a lunch and Carpooling is available. Time to be announced. We will meet at the Railroad Society Museum Caboose in Truckee at 9:00am.

August 3rd, Historical Talk: Truckee Lake Tahoe Railway  presented by Jerry Blackwill at the Truckee Tahoe Airport Conference Room. Discussion regarding the History of the Truckee Lake Tahoe Railway and the impact of creating tourism for the Lake Tahoe Basin – 7:00pm.

Aug 10th, Historical Walk: Jibboom Street. Corri Jiminez, an Architectural Historian and Historic Preservation Contractor, will provide a short historical walk along Jibboom Street and discuss the “infamous” Red Light District. This will show where the housing actually was and a history of the dance halls and other industries that thrived on Jibboom Street. *Time to be updated*

August 15th, Celebration: 150th Anniversary of the Assumption Catholic Church. Non-GSC, informational only. Truckee Community Arts Center, Church Street.

August 17th, Historical Talk: Vigilantism in American and its Effect in Truckee by Mark McLaughlin at the Donner State Park, Community Room – 5:30pm.

(website)

August 24th, Historical Talk: Henness Pass/Independence Lake and its connection with the Big 4 and the Development of the Resort Concept. Presented by Corri Jimenez, Architectural Historian and Historic Preservation Constractor, in the Truckee Tahoe Airport Conference Room. What is the connection to railroad? Guess you will have to come to find out! 7:00pm.

August 31: Our final goodbye to the Celebration of the Transcontinental Railroad will be held at the Regional Park Railroad Terminus in the Truckee River Regional Park. Plans are still being finalized but the vision is a wonderful day at the park riding the trains, eating lunch, kids playing and lots of history discussions! There will be CAKE and BBQ Truckee Style - 11:00am - 3:00pm.

Keep checking back -- more information to come!