Historical Markers of Washoe County & Reno
Location: South Reno Directions: Along Chirnmore Drive at the base of Rattlesnake Mountain (Access from S. McCarran Blvd, then right on Rio Poco Road)
N 39° 28.562 W 119° 45.276
Date Conquered: 8/1/07 Nearest Intersection: Rio Poco Rd. Quick Description: A marker noting the last campsite before the ill-fated Donner Party began their trek over the Sierra. Signed: No -- Historically, this marker was never signed. NOTES: Yes, the beauty of urban markers. #253 can be a true thorn in the side if you aren't careful for several reasons. (We'll get to these in a minute) #253 is a very unassuming marker at an even more unassuming location. The truth is, many people who live around Chirnmore Drive are unaware this marker even exists not to the mention the city of Reno alone. #253 is an annoying detour away from the Reno's main arteries. First, let's get these directions out of the way... * Head east on S. McCarran Blvd until you reach Rio Poco. (If you're coming from Virginia, Rio Poco is 3 miles to the east just past Longley Lane/Double R Blvd.) Fortunately, a stoplight at Rio Poco prevents hunters from missing the turn. Turn right onto Rio Poco and proceed 1/4 mile. The green grass on your right is "Donner Party Park". Chirnmore Drive is the road on your immediate right just past the park. Turn on Chirnmore and #253 awaits your conquering. Now, onto the issue at hand... #253 suffers from a severe case of private property syndrome. How is this possible? #253 literally sits right next to somebody's duplex, essentially, right next to somebody's private property! Although the SHPO had good intentions to place this marker at the exact campsite for the Donners (today's Rattlesnake Mountain), I don't think they were paying too much attention when they placed it this close to somebody's duplex. The wiser thing to do would've been to place it in the park itself or even closer to the mountain in the sagebrush line. Also, Reno Police patrols this quiet neighborhood quite often. Although they do an outstanding job in keeping the peace around the city of Reno, don't be surprised if one stops to ask you a few questions. As I said, few people are aware that this marker exists. Let's spread the word to keep it alive! Reno's never-ending obsession with growing grass in the desert... as shown prevalent in this picture. When finding #253, look for this sign, "Donner Party Park". Notice the marker in the center b.g. Full Description: Exact description as reads ... Upon entering the Truckee Meadows along the Truckee River thousands of California-bound emigrants turned their wagons southwest to avoid extensive marshes and uncrossable sloughs. Here at the base of Rattlesnake Mountain the emigrants established a campground which extended nearly two miles to the east and west, one half mile north and south. Numerous local springs furnished quality water and the protected location of the camp provided an ideal locale for a rest stop after hundreds of grueling miles spent traversing the Humboldt River Valley. Once rested the emigrants turned west to face their last major obstacle, the Sierra Nevadas. In October of 1846, the ill-fated Donner Party spent five days in this area resting and grazing their weary animals. Plagued by a series of unfortunate incidents one member of the party, William Pike, was accidentally shot, died and was buried in the vicinity. For all we know, the original eating utensils of the Donners could be buried under all this superficial grass. The unfortunate face of progress.
NOTES: Yes, the beauty of urban markers. #253 can be a true thorn in the side if you aren't careful for several reasons. (We'll get to these in a minute) #253 is a very unassuming marker at an even more unassuming location. The truth is, many people who live around Chirnmore Drive are unaware this marker even exists not to the mention the city of Reno alone. #253 is an annoying detour away from the Reno's main arteries. First, let's get these directions out of the way... * Head east on S. McCarran Blvd until you reach Rio Poco. (If you're coming from Virginia, Rio Poco is 3 miles to the east just past Longley Lane/Double R Blvd.) Fortunately, a stoplight at Rio Poco prevents hunters from missing the turn. Turn right onto Rio Poco and proceed 1/4 mile. The green grass on your right is "Donner Party Park". Chirnmore Drive is the road on your immediate right just past the park. Turn on Chirnmore and #253 awaits your conquering. Now, onto the issue at hand... #253 suffers from a severe case of private property syndrome. How is this possible? #253 literally sits right next to somebody's duplex, essentially, right next to somebody's private property! Although the SHPO had good intentions to place this marker at the exact campsite for the Donners (today's Rattlesnake Mountain), I don't think they were paying too much attention when they placed it this close to somebody's duplex. The wiser thing to do would've been to place it in the park itself or even closer to the mountain in the sagebrush line. Also, Reno Police patrols this quiet neighborhood quite often. Although they do an outstanding job in keeping the peace around the city of Reno, don't be surprised if one stops to ask you a few questions. As I said, few people are aware that this marker exists. Let's spread the word to keep it alive! Reno's never-ending obsession with growing grass in the desert... as shown prevalent in this picture. When finding #253, look for this sign, "Donner Party Park". Notice the marker in the center b.g. Full Description: Exact description as reads ... Upon entering the Truckee Meadows along the Truckee River thousands of California-bound emigrants turned their wagons southwest to avoid extensive marshes and uncrossable sloughs. Here at the base of Rattlesnake Mountain the emigrants established a campground which extended nearly two miles to the east and west, one half mile north and south. Numerous local springs furnished quality water and the protected location of the camp provided an ideal locale for a rest stop after hundreds of grueling miles spent traversing the Humboldt River Valley. Once rested the emigrants turned west to face their last major obstacle, the Sierra Nevadas. In October of 1846, the ill-fated Donner Party spent five days in this area resting and grazing their weary animals. Plagued by a series of unfortunate incidents one member of the party, William Pike, was accidentally shot, died and was buried in the vicinity. For all we know, the original eating utensils of the Donners could be buried under all this superficial grass. The unfortunate face of progress.
* Head east on S. McCarran Blvd until you reach Rio Poco. (If you're coming from Virginia, Rio Poco is 3 miles to the east just past Longley Lane/Double R Blvd.) Fortunately, a stoplight at Rio Poco prevents hunters from missing the turn. Turn right onto Rio Poco and proceed 1/4 mile. The green grass on your right is "Donner Party Park". Chirnmore Drive is the road on your immediate right just past the park. Turn on Chirnmore and #253 awaits your conquering. Now, onto the issue at hand... #253 suffers from a severe case of private property syndrome. How is this possible? #253 literally sits right next to somebody's duplex, essentially, right next to somebody's private property! Although the SHPO had good intentions to place this marker at the exact campsite for the Donners (today's Rattlesnake Mountain), I don't think they were paying too much attention when they placed it this close to somebody's duplex. The wiser thing to do would've been to place it in the park itself or even closer to the mountain in the sagebrush line. Also, Reno Police patrols this quiet neighborhood quite often. Although they do an outstanding job in keeping the peace around the city of Reno, don't be surprised if one stops to ask you a few questions. As I said, few people are aware that this marker exists. Let's spread the word to keep it alive! Reno's never-ending obsession with growing grass in the desert... as shown prevalent in this picture. When finding #253, look for this sign, "Donner Party Park". Notice the marker in the center b.g. Full Description: Exact description as reads ... Upon entering the Truckee Meadows along the Truckee River thousands of California-bound emigrants turned their wagons southwest to avoid extensive marshes and uncrossable sloughs. Here at the base of Rattlesnake Mountain the emigrants established a campground which extended nearly two miles to the east and west, one half mile north and south. Numerous local springs furnished quality water and the protected location of the camp provided an ideal locale for a rest stop after hundreds of grueling miles spent traversing the Humboldt River Valley. Once rested the emigrants turned west to face their last major obstacle, the Sierra Nevadas. In October of 1846, the ill-fated Donner Party spent five days in this area resting and grazing their weary animals. Plagued by a series of unfortunate incidents one member of the party, William Pike, was accidentally shot, died and was buried in the vicinity. For all we know, the original eating utensils of the Donners could be buried under all this superficial grass. The unfortunate face of progress.
#253 suffers from a severe case of private property syndrome. How is this possible? #253 literally sits right next to somebody's duplex, essentially, right next to somebody's private property! Although the SHPO had good intentions to place this marker at the exact campsite for the Donners (today's Rattlesnake Mountain), I don't think they were paying too much attention when they placed it this close to somebody's duplex. The wiser thing to do would've been to place it in the park itself or even closer to the mountain in the sagebrush line. Also, Reno Police patrols this quiet neighborhood quite often. Although they do an outstanding job in keeping the peace around the city of Reno, don't be surprised if one stops to ask you a few questions. As I said, few people are aware that this marker exists. Let's spread the word to keep it alive! Reno's never-ending obsession with growing grass in the desert... as shown prevalent in this picture. When finding #253, look for this sign, "Donner Party Park". Notice the marker in the center b.g. Full Description: Exact description as reads ... Upon entering the Truckee Meadows along the Truckee River thousands of California-bound emigrants turned their wagons southwest to avoid extensive marshes and uncrossable sloughs. Here at the base of Rattlesnake Mountain the emigrants established a campground which extended nearly two miles to the east and west, one half mile north and south. Numerous local springs furnished quality water and the protected location of the camp provided an ideal locale for a rest stop after hundreds of grueling miles spent traversing the Humboldt River Valley. Once rested the emigrants turned west to face their last major obstacle, the Sierra Nevadas. In October of 1846, the ill-fated Donner Party spent five days in this area resting and grazing their weary animals. Plagued by a series of unfortunate incidents one member of the party, William Pike, was accidentally shot, died and was buried in the vicinity. For all we know, the original eating utensils of the Donners could be buried under all this superficial grass. The unfortunate face of progress.
Full Description: Exact description as reads ... Upon entering the Truckee Meadows along the Truckee River thousands of California-bound emigrants turned their wagons southwest to avoid extensive marshes and uncrossable sloughs. Here at the base of Rattlesnake Mountain the emigrants established a campground which extended nearly two miles to the east and west, one half mile north and south. Numerous local springs furnished quality water and the protected location of the camp provided an ideal locale for a rest stop after hundreds of grueling miles spent traversing the Humboldt River Valley. Once rested the emigrants turned west to face their last major obstacle, the Sierra Nevadas. In October of 1846, the ill-fated Donner Party spent five days in this area resting and grazing their weary animals. Plagued by a series of unfortunate incidents one member of the party, William Pike, was accidentally shot, died and was buried in the vicinity. For all we know, the original eating utensils of the Donners could be buried under all this superficial grass. The unfortunate face of progress.
Upon entering the Truckee Meadows along the Truckee River thousands of California-bound emigrants turned their wagons southwest to avoid extensive marshes and uncrossable sloughs. Here at the base of Rattlesnake Mountain the emigrants established a campground which extended nearly two miles to the east and west, one half mile north and south. Numerous local springs furnished quality water and the protected location of the camp provided an ideal locale for a rest stop after hundreds of grueling miles spent traversing the Humboldt River Valley. Once rested the emigrants turned west to face their last major obstacle, the Sierra Nevadas. In October of 1846, the ill-fated Donner Party spent five days in this area resting and grazing their weary animals. Plagued by a series of unfortunate incidents one member of the party, William Pike, was accidentally shot, died and was buried in the vicinity. For all we know, the original eating utensils of the Donners could be buried under all this superficial grass. The unfortunate face of progress.
In October of 1846, the ill-fated Donner Party spent five days in this area resting and grazing their weary animals. Plagued by a series of unfortunate incidents one member of the party, William Pike, was accidentally shot, died and was buried in the vicinity.
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