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The Sierra as we know it today began to be uplifted
between 10 million and 20 million years ago during
what is known as the volcanic episode. The first
inhabitants of Lake Tahoe were the Washoe, and Tahoe
was a summer camp for them. Lake Tahoe held a spiritual
meaning for the tribe and many sacred ceremonies were
held along the southern shores.
In 1844, John C. Fremont sighted Lake Tahoe, the first
European to see the "Lake of the Sky". After that,
interest in Lake Tahoe's bounty increased with the
1859 discovery of the Comstock Lode 20 miles east of Lake
Tahoe. 1895 had cleared much of the basin's forest
cleared to meet the demand for timber and firewood in
Virginia City's mines. The eventual decline of the
Comstock Lode may have been the saving of the Tahoe forest,
which had been nearly clear-cut.
The modern era of Lake Tahoe really began in 1931, with
the completion of the highway around the lake. The
highway spelled an end to the age of steamships, and by
the 1940s, put the narrow-gauge railway out of business
as well. The 1960 Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley put
Lake Tahoe firmly on the map.
Today, Lake Tahoe continues to offer visitors a bit of
many historic eras. While hotel/casinos and ski resorts
draw millions of guests each year, the main attraction
continues to be the quiet beauty of the Sierra mountains
and the timeless inspiration of the lake itself, little
changed from the days of the Washoe Indians.
*Information provided by Lake Tahoe
Visitor's Authority, South Lake Tahoe Chamber of
Commerce and the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association.
