A member of the Donner/Reed Party.
Lewis Donner was the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Blue Donner. His parents, along with his siblings, were stranded at Alder Creek and forced to attempt to survive in two makeshift tents.
On March 3, 1847, the Second Relief, who had arrived at the tent camp, set out to return to the Lake Camp. They left behind rescuer Nicholas Clark to try to assist the surviving Donners. He was staying in Jacob Donner's tent when, a few days later, a terrible storm set in. It lasted nearly a week. Clark later recalled, "Just as the storm was closing, Lewis Donner died, and the poor mother was well-nigh frantic with grief. As soon as she could make her way to the other tent, she carried her dead babe over and laid it in Mrs. George Donner's lap." With Clark's help, they finally laid the child away in a grave cut out of the solid snow.
Lewis Donner was the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Blue Donner. His parents, along with his siblings, were stranded at Alder Creek and forced to attempt to survive in two makeshift tents.
On March 3, 1847, the Second Relief, who had arrived at the tent camp, set out to return to the Lake Camp. They left behind rescuer Nicholas Clark to try to assist the surviving Donners. He was staying in Jacob Donner's tent when, a few days later, a terrible storm set in. It lasted nearly a week. Clark later recalled, "Just as the storm was closing, Lewis Donner died, and the poor mother was well-nigh frantic with grief. As soon as she could make her way to the other tent, she carried her dead babe over and laid it in Mrs. George Donner's lap." With Clark's help, they finally laid the child away in a grave cut out of the solid snow.
A member of the Donner/Reed Party.
Lewis Donner was the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Blue Donner. His parents, along with his siblings, were stranded at Alder Creek and forced to attempt to survive in two makeshift tents.
On March 3, 1847, the Second Relief, who had arrived at the tent camp, set out to return to the Lake Camp. They left behind rescuer Nicholas Clark to try to assist the surviving Donners. He was staying in Jacob Donner's tent when, a few days later, a terrible storm set in. It lasted nearly a week. Clark later recalled, "Just as the storm was closing, Lewis Donner died, and the poor mother was well-nigh frantic with grief. As soon as she could make her way to the other tent, she carried her dead babe over and laid it in Mrs. George Donner's lap." With Clark's help, they finally laid the child away in a grave cut out of the solid snow.
Lewis Donner was the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Blue Donner. His parents, along with his siblings, were stranded at Alder Creek and forced to attempt to survive in two makeshift tents.
On March 3, 1847, the Second Relief, who had arrived at the tent camp, set out to return to the Lake Camp. They left behind rescuer Nicholas Clark to try to assist the surviving Donners. He was staying in Jacob Donner's tent when, a few days later, a terrible storm set in. It lasted nearly a week. Clark later recalled, "Just as the storm was closing, Lewis Donner died, and the poor mother was well-nigh frantic with grief. As soon as she could make her way to the other tent, she carried her dead babe over and laid it in Mrs. George Donner's lap." With Clark's help, they finally laid the child away in a grave cut out of the solid snow.
Inscription
DONNER PARTY CAMP AT ALDER CREEK VALLEY
In the Fall of 1846, 25 Members of The Donner Party became Trapped by an Early Snowstorm here at Alder Creek Valley. The George and Jacob Donner Families, their Teamsters, and Fellow Travelers Suffered Extreme Hardship and Starvation. They Spent the Winter Here Cut Off from the Rest of Their Party Who Camped at Donner Lake. Only 11 Survived the Ordeal. Their Survival, Against Desperate Odds, Stands as a Testament to the Enduring Pioneer Spirit that Helped Shape the Future of California.
DEDICATED ON SEPTEMBER 28, 1996 BY THE TAHOE NATIONAL FOREST TO COMMEMORATE THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DONNER PARTY TRAGEDY.
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