Historical Markers of
Washoe County & Reno

 

  • HM 4 - Junction House
  • HM 18 - Pyramid Lake
  • HM 24 - Olinghouse
  • HM 29 - Chinese in Nevada
  • HM 30 - Reno
  • HM 43 - Derby Diversion Dam
  • HM 62 - Truckee River -- West
  • HM 63 - Truckee River -- East
  • HM 68 - Wadsworth
  • HM 79 - Civil War Plot
  • HM 81 - Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Tree
  • HM 88 - Sparks
  • HM 94 - The Winters Ranch
    (Rancho Del Sierra)
  • HM 114 - Franktown
  • HM 128 - The Great Train Robbery
  • HM 148 - The Two Battles of Pyramid Lake
  • HM 149 - High Rock Canyon
  • HM 152 - Gerlach
  • HM 166 - Bowers Mansion
  • HM 169 - Glendale School
  • HM 189 - Southern Pacific Railroad Yards
  • HM 191 - Verdi
  • HM 198 - Steamboat Springs
  • HM 210 - Nevada-California-Oregon Railroad Depot
  • HM 211 - Old Geiger Grade (In Canyon Below)
  • HM 212 - Galena
  • HM 218 - Geiger Station (Magnolia House)
  • HM 220 - The Fight of the Century
  • HM 221 - Sand Harbor
  • HM 227 - Lake Mansion
  • HM 230 - Mount Rose Weather Observatory
  • HM 234 - Moana Springs
  • HM 238 - Huffaker's
  • HM 240 - Coney Island
  • HM 245 - Frederick Joseph DeLongchamps (June 2, 1882 - February 11, 1969)
  • HM 246 - The Great Incline of the Sierra Nevada
  • HM 247 - Site of Nevada's First Public Library
  • HM 248 - Virginia & Truckee Railroad
    Right of Way
  • HM 253 - Emigrant-Donner Camp
  • HM 256 - Historic Transportation...
  • HM 265 - Governor Emmet Derby Boyle
  • HM 267 - Galena Creek Fish Hatchery
  • Pyramid Lake

    Location: Central Washoe County, Pyramid Lake
    Directions: Along SR 445 overlooking Pyramid Lake, 1 mile west of SR 446

    Location: 3
    Visibility: 1
    Accessibility: 1
    Marker type: St (L)
       

    Date Conquered: 7/14/07
    Nearest intersection: Sutcliffe Hwy (SR 446)
    Quick Description: A fine marker honoring Pyramid Lake and the Indian Reservation.
    Signed: Yes -- Signed on both lanes of SR 445.

    Marker History: #18 was originally erected in 1965 as a stone marker, but it didn't take for Pyramid Lake's fierce winter winds and biting cold to take its toll on its face. Within five years, the Stone face was in poor condition and its lettering barely legible. By orders of the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation or NDOT (the information gets sketchy here), #18 was removed to be re-faced and re-erected at a new turnout (seen below) provided by NDOT. In 1984, #18 was re-erected, redone using in the Standard (L) type issue. Many, many kudos go to the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation in cooperation with NDOT for re-erecting this fine representation of Nevada history.

    Pyramid Lake's austere waters continue to mystify me.
    Any life-long Nevadan is proud of Pyramid Lake and its beautiful trout.

    Full Description:
    Exact description as reads ...

    The beautiful base for this marker is in excellent condition. I wish I could say the same for the Stone face. Original Stone markers are becoming extremely rare; to find a "Stone" in Reno is a miracle. Many kudos to the Atlantis Casino for preserving this marker.

    America's most beautiful desert lake is a remnant of ancient Lake Lahontan, which during the Ice Age covered over 8,000 square miles. Caves along its shores have revealed a prehistoric people with a well-developed community life.

    John C. Frémont discovered the lake on January 10, 1844, and named it for the pyramid-shaped island it contains. From 1844 to the 1860's, the lake's history is an account of native people in contention with the white invasion of northwestern Nevada. With the Indian victory in the first battle of Pyramid Lake, May 12, 1860, more white men died than in any prior White-Indian engagement in the far west. The Pyramid Lake Reservation was set aside for the Indians in 1859.

    The unusual calcium carbonate Tufa formations along the lake shore are formed by algae, by precipitation from hot springs, from concentration during drier periods, and from wave-action shoreline deposits.

    The 41-pound world record size cutthroat trout was taken from Pyramid Lake, in 1925, by Johnny Skimmerhorn, a Paiute Indian. The lake is the home of the Cui-ui, a peculiar lakesucker now found nowhere else in the world.

    Anaho Island, a national wildlife refuge, is probably the largest white pelican nesting colony in North America.

    This plaque sits next to #18, erected by the PLIR.

    A fine view of Pyramid Lake's stark beauty.

    >> HM 19 >> Site Homepage Contact

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    Copyright © Paul Sebesta