Truckee River - East

[63]       

Truckee River -- East

Washoe County
  39.55034, -119.57306

"If I had to choose, this is much nicer view than at Truckee River West. It's easy to see why emigrants preferred this route over the Carson River Route. Everything about the Truckee ... its size and water volume, to the lush grasses and foliage that line its banks for 100 miles, is refreshing and life-rejuvenating in every way. I think about how lonely this drive would be without the river in sight. Hands down to the truth! ... Nevadans owe their lives to a watercourse like the Truckee." -- Journal Entry, August 2007

Along eastbound Interstate 80, approx. 10 miles east of Reno

Original Date Visited: 8/14/07

Signed: Signed as an interstate exit (NDOT sign) that reads "Historical Marker." Eastbound lane of Interstate 80.

Notes: Everything about [63] - its size, text, location, and even its access, was designed to be a twin to its sister marker [62]. Again, the only way to access this marker is by traveling the eastbound lanes of I-80. Since most of you will probably be coming from Reno, get off at the unnumbered exit that reads, "Scenic View" in between Lockwood and Derby Dam. (This exit is just before "Patrick.") You can't miss it. In recent years, NDOT has placed an "Historical Marker" marquee similar to [62] at the exit sign.

  • Marker 63 is an identical twin to Marker 62
  • Marker 63 was placed at a lovely view above the Truckee River
  • Marker 63 comes with its own exit from the interstate

Exact Description:
The Truckee River, seen below, runs from Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake. The river's first recorded discovery was by Captain John C. Fremont in January, 1844. He camped by its terminus at Pyramid, then followed it to the big bend at Wadsworth. Captain Fremont named the stream the Salmon-Trout River. At the end of his 1845 sojourn in Nevada, he followed it into the Sierra and crossed Donner Pass.

Beginning with the Stephens-Murphy-Townsend Party in 1844, the Truckee River became a route for California emigrants until the advent of the Central Pacific Railroad in 1868-1869 brought the wagon train period to a close. After the Southern Pacific took over the railway in 1899 and relocted much of its Nevada alignment, the old Central Pacific roadbed between Sparks and Wadsworth was deeded to Washoe County in 1904 for road purposes. In 1917, this road became a portion of State Road 1, which in 1920 became the Nevada section of the Victory Highway. In 1925, when Federal Highway names were replaced by a numerical system, the Victory Highway became U.S. Highway 40. In 1958, after reconstruction, this route became the initial section of Interstate 80 across Nevada.

The river provides water for Reno, Sparks, the Fallon agricultural area and Pyramid Lake.

Next Marker:

OPHIR

Related Links & Markers

 [18] -- Pyramid Lake   [88] -- Sparks   [181] -- The Washo Indians   [191] -- Verdi 

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