Historical Markers of Washoe County & Reno
Location: Southern Washoe County, Lake Tahoe Directions: At the Sand Harbor Boat Launch, 4 miles south of Incline Village (Access via SR 28, 8.2 miles north of US 50)
Date Conquered: 8/19/07 Quick Description: A marker honoring the lumber flume system used to supply cordwood for the Comstock mines. Signed: No -- Historically, this marker was signed. However, it was probably removed because of Highway 28's extremely narrow lanes. NOTES: What a true pity that #221 is not signed! This is one marker that would most benefit from at least one sign from the highway. Without question, #221 is one of the hardest markers to locate in the entire state for a few reasons... 1) #221 is not located alongside SR 28. Instead, hunters must drive into the boat launch area and park to find it. 2) Common sense would dictate that an historical marker used for public viewing would be placed at a main public attraction. For example, the main visitor's center to Sand Harbor, or the main parking area to the park would be better and more obvious choices. Instead for some unknown reason, the SHPO chose the Boat Launch, a private use area for boaters only. Whatever the reason, look for a brown sign that reads "Boats Only." If you're coming from US 50, this sign is located just past the main entrance to "Sand Harbor, Visitors Center". Pull into the Boat Launch and park. The marker sits a few yards south of the entrance booth literally right in front of the boat ramp and half-hidden by a small spruce. Be warned, however, if you come here during the middle of summer, don't be surprised to find the entrance kiosk staffed and ready to take your $6 parking fee! If so, just adamantly tell the ranger you're only here to capture the marker and they should let you go. If not, park along SR 28 somewhere and walk into the boat launch. Trust me folks, I've tried it. Thanks to this tree, you can't see this marker from the highway. Full Description: Exact description as reads ... History records Sand Harbor as playing an important role in the operations of the Sierra Nevada Wood and Lumber Company, one of three large combines supplying lumber and cordwood to the Comstock mines during the late 19th century. Walter Scott Hobart organized the company and John Bear Overton was its general manager. The steamer "Niagara" towed log rafts from company land at the south end of Lake Tahoe to Sand Harbor. Here the logs were loaded on narrow-gauge railway cars and taken two miles north to a sawmill on Mill Creek. Lumber and cordwood were started on the way to Virginia City via an incline tramway 4,000 feet long, and rising 1,400 feet up the mountainside where the material was transferred to water flumes and transported to Lakeview just north of Carson City. The tramway has been described as "the Great Incline of the Sierra Nevada." Once you know where to look, it's not so bad. Notice the entrance kiosk and the road you come in on. #221 would be better placed at the main entrance to Sand Harbor, or the "Vista Point" just up the road.
NOTES: What a true pity that #221 is not signed! This is one marker that would most benefit from at least one sign from the highway. Without question, #221 is one of the hardest markers to locate in the entire state for a few reasons... 1) #221 is not located alongside SR 28. Instead, hunters must drive into the boat launch area and park to find it. 2) Common sense would dictate that an historical marker used for public viewing would be placed at a main public attraction. For example, the main visitor's center to Sand Harbor, or the main parking area to the park would be better and more obvious choices. Instead for some unknown reason, the SHPO chose the Boat Launch, a private use area for boaters only. Whatever the reason, look for a brown sign that reads "Boats Only." If you're coming from US 50, this sign is located just past the main entrance to "Sand Harbor, Visitors Center". Pull into the Boat Launch and park. The marker sits a few yards south of the entrance booth literally right in front of the boat ramp and half-hidden by a small spruce. Be warned, however, if you come here during the middle of summer, don't be surprised to find the entrance kiosk staffed and ready to take your $6 parking fee! If so, just adamantly tell the ranger you're only here to capture the marker and they should let you go. If not, park along SR 28 somewhere and walk into the boat launch. Trust me folks, I've tried it. Thanks to this tree, you can't see this marker from the highway. Full Description: Exact description as reads ... History records Sand Harbor as playing an important role in the operations of the Sierra Nevada Wood and Lumber Company, one of three large combines supplying lumber and cordwood to the Comstock mines during the late 19th century. Walter Scott Hobart organized the company and John Bear Overton was its general manager. The steamer "Niagara" towed log rafts from company land at the south end of Lake Tahoe to Sand Harbor. Here the logs were loaded on narrow-gauge railway cars and taken two miles north to a sawmill on Mill Creek. Lumber and cordwood were started on the way to Virginia City via an incline tramway 4,000 feet long, and rising 1,400 feet up the mountainside where the material was transferred to water flumes and transported to Lakeview just north of Carson City. The tramway has been described as "the Great Incline of the Sierra Nevada." Once you know where to look, it's not so bad. Notice the entrance kiosk and the road you come in on. #221 would be better placed at the main entrance to Sand Harbor, or the "Vista Point" just up the road.
1) #221 is not located alongside SR 28. Instead, hunters must drive into the boat launch area and park to find it. 2) Common sense would dictate that an historical marker used for public viewing would be placed at a main public attraction. For example, the main visitor's center to Sand Harbor, or the main parking area to the park would be better and more obvious choices. Instead for some unknown reason, the SHPO chose the Boat Launch, a private use area for boaters only. Whatever the reason, look for a brown sign that reads "Boats Only." If you're coming from US 50, this sign is located just past the main entrance to "Sand Harbor, Visitors Center". Pull into the Boat Launch and park. The marker sits a few yards south of the entrance booth literally right in front of the boat ramp and half-hidden by a small spruce. Be warned, however, if you come here during the middle of summer, don't be surprised to find the entrance kiosk staffed and ready to take your $6 parking fee! If so, just adamantly tell the ranger you're only here to capture the marker and they should let you go. If not, park along SR 28 somewhere and walk into the boat launch. Trust me folks, I've tried it. Thanks to this tree, you can't see this marker from the highway. Full Description: Exact description as reads ... History records Sand Harbor as playing an important role in the operations of the Sierra Nevada Wood and Lumber Company, one of three large combines supplying lumber and cordwood to the Comstock mines during the late 19th century. Walter Scott Hobart organized the company and John Bear Overton was its general manager. The steamer "Niagara" towed log rafts from company land at the south end of Lake Tahoe to Sand Harbor. Here the logs were loaded on narrow-gauge railway cars and taken two miles north to a sawmill on Mill Creek. Lumber and cordwood were started on the way to Virginia City via an incline tramway 4,000 feet long, and rising 1,400 feet up the mountainside where the material was transferred to water flumes and transported to Lakeview just north of Carson City. The tramway has been described as "the Great Incline of the Sierra Nevada." Once you know where to look, it's not so bad. Notice the entrance kiosk and the road you come in on. #221 would be better placed at the main entrance to Sand Harbor, or the "Vista Point" just up the road.
Whatever the reason, look for a brown sign that reads "Boats Only." If you're coming from US 50, this sign is located just past the main entrance to "Sand Harbor, Visitors Center". Pull into the Boat Launch and park. The marker sits a few yards south of the entrance booth literally right in front of the boat ramp and half-hidden by a small spruce. Be warned, however, if you come here during the middle of summer, don't be surprised to find the entrance kiosk staffed and ready to take your $6 parking fee! If so, just adamantly tell the ranger you're only here to capture the marker and they should let you go. If not, park along SR 28 somewhere and walk into the boat launch. Trust me folks, I've tried it. Thanks to this tree, you can't see this marker from the highway. Full Description: Exact description as reads ... History records Sand Harbor as playing an important role in the operations of the Sierra Nevada Wood and Lumber Company, one of three large combines supplying lumber and cordwood to the Comstock mines during the late 19th century. Walter Scott Hobart organized the company and John Bear Overton was its general manager. The steamer "Niagara" towed log rafts from company land at the south end of Lake Tahoe to Sand Harbor. Here the logs were loaded on narrow-gauge railway cars and taken two miles north to a sawmill on Mill Creek. Lumber and cordwood were started on the way to Virginia City via an incline tramway 4,000 feet long, and rising 1,400 feet up the mountainside where the material was transferred to water flumes and transported to Lakeview just north of Carson City. The tramway has been described as "the Great Incline of the Sierra Nevada." Once you know where to look, it's not so bad. Notice the entrance kiosk and the road you come in on. #221 would be better placed at the main entrance to Sand Harbor, or the "Vista Point" just up the road.
Full Description: Exact description as reads ... History records Sand Harbor as playing an important role in the operations of the Sierra Nevada Wood and Lumber Company, one of three large combines supplying lumber and cordwood to the Comstock mines during the late 19th century. Walter Scott Hobart organized the company and John Bear Overton was its general manager. The steamer "Niagara" towed log rafts from company land at the south end of Lake Tahoe to Sand Harbor. Here the logs were loaded on narrow-gauge railway cars and taken two miles north to a sawmill on Mill Creek. Lumber and cordwood were started on the way to Virginia City via an incline tramway 4,000 feet long, and rising 1,400 feet up the mountainside where the material was transferred to water flumes and transported to Lakeview just north of Carson City. The tramway has been described as "the Great Incline of the Sierra Nevada." Once you know where to look, it's not so bad. Notice the entrance kiosk and the road you come in on. #221 would be better placed at the main entrance to Sand Harbor, or the "Vista Point" just up the road.
History records Sand Harbor as playing an important role in the operations of the Sierra Nevada Wood and Lumber Company, one of three large combines supplying lumber and cordwood to the Comstock mines during the late 19th century. Walter Scott Hobart organized the company and John Bear Overton was its general manager. The steamer "Niagara" towed log rafts from company land at the south end of Lake Tahoe to Sand Harbor. Here the logs were loaded on narrow-gauge railway cars and taken two miles north to a sawmill on Mill Creek. Lumber and cordwood were started on the way to Virginia City via an incline tramway 4,000 feet long, and rising 1,400 feet up the mountainside where the material was transferred to water flumes and transported to Lakeview just north of Carson City. The tramway has been described as "the Great Incline of the Sierra Nevada." Once you know where to look, it's not so bad. Notice the entrance kiosk and the road you come in on. #221 would be better placed at the main entrance to Sand Harbor, or the "Vista Point" just up the road.
The steamer "Niagara" towed log rafts from company land at the south end of Lake Tahoe to Sand Harbor. Here the logs were loaded on narrow-gauge railway cars and taken two miles north to a sawmill on Mill Creek. Lumber and cordwood were started on the way to Virginia City via an incline tramway 4,000 feet long, and rising 1,400 feet up the mountainside where the material was transferred to water flumes and transported to Lakeview just north of Carson City. The tramway has been described as "the Great Incline of the Sierra Nevada." Once you know where to look, it's not so bad. Notice the entrance kiosk and the road you come in on. #221 would be better placed at the main entrance to Sand Harbor, or the "Vista Point" just up the road.
Lumber and cordwood were started on the way to Virginia City via an incline tramway 4,000 feet long, and rising 1,400 feet up the mountainside where the material was transferred to water flumes and transported to Lakeview just north of Carson City. The tramway has been described as "the Great Incline of the Sierra Nevada." Once you know where to look, it's not so bad. Notice the entrance kiosk and the road you come in on. #221 would be better placed at the main entrance to Sand Harbor, or the "Vista Point" just up the road.
The tramway has been described as "the Great Incline of the Sierra Nevada." Once you know where to look, it's not so bad. Notice the entrance kiosk and the road you come in on. #221 would be better placed at the main entrance to Sand Harbor, or the "Vista Point" just up the road.
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