Donner Camp
Also known as: Donner Camp Sites; Donner Memorial State Park
Why it's listed
Near Truckee, California, three groups of sites preserve the places where the Donner Party spent the winter of 1846-47. The Murphy and Breen-Keseberg cabin sites lie within Donner Memorial State Park, the Reed-Graves cabin site is across the highway to the east, and the Alder Creek camp of George and Jacob Donner sits about five miles north in Tahoe National Forest. Little physical evidence survives: a large rock beside the Murphy site, a 1918 pioneer family statue, a wooden cross, and interpretive signs. Snow trapped the emigrants in early November 1846 after a delayed journey that included Hastings' cutoff. Of the 87 people, about 42 died, and some survivors resorted to eating the dead. Four relief expeditions brought out the rest. The sites are recognized as the scene of the worst disaster in western overland migration and as a memorial to survival. A museum operates at the state park.
Significance in brief: The sites mark the winter camps of the Donner Party, 87 California-bound emigrants who suffered what the nomination calls the worst disaster in the record of western migration. Starvation, death and cannibalism turned the journey into an epic story of heroism and despair. The sites memorialize the survivors' will to survive.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 66000218, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2.6 mi. W of Truckee on U.S. 40, Truckee |
|---|---|
| County | Nevada County |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000218 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1846-47 |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated January 20, 1961 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Both the state park and the Alder Creek site are open during daylight hours; the state park has a museum. The original cabins no longer exist. |
| Acreage | 260 |
| Coordinates | 39.37944, -120.16029 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 66000218.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q3363979
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.