History of Lake Tahoe in Timeline

Lake Tahoe is a large alpine lake in the Sierra Nevada, situated on the border of California and Nevada. At an elevation of 6,225 feet, it is North America's largest alpine lake. It also holds the title of being the second deepest lake in the United States with a depth of 1,645 feet. In terms of volume, it is the sixth largest lake in the U.S., after the five Great Lakes.

1900: Niagara scrapped at Tahoe City

In 1900, the steamboat Niagara was scrapped at Tahoe City.

1910: Hayford ellipsoid usage

The Hayford ellipsoid of 1910 may have been used by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey.

1912: Congressional session attempted to designate national park

During the 1912, 1913 and 1918 Congressional sessions, congressmen tried unsuccessfully to designate the Lake Tahoe basin as a national park.

1913: Lake Tahoe Dam built

Lake Tahoe Dam was built in 1913 at the lake's only outlet, the Truckee River, at Tahoe City to control the lake level and enable water storage.

1926: First Casino Opens at Lake Tahoe

In 1926, Robert Sherman built the first casino at Lake Tahoe on the North Shore in Crystal Bay, named the Cal-Neva Lodge.

1929: House Built in Lake Tahoe

In 1929, a house was built in Lake Tahoe which was later used as a filming location for Last Weekend (2014), and A Place in the Sun.

1929: Sale of Cal-Neva Lodge

In 1929, the Cal-Neva Lodge was sold to Bill Graham and Jim McKay after Norman Henry Biltz acquired the property.

1931: Harrah Purchases Stateline Country Club

In 1931, Bill Harrah purchased the Stateline Country Club, which had been standing since 1931, and built Harrah's Tahoe.

1931: Nevada Legalizes Gambling

In 1931, Nevada legalized gambling, though the first casino at Lake Tahoe had already been open for several years.

1931: Tunnel blasted through Cave Rock

In 1931, a tunnel was blasted through Cave Rock for Highway 50, despite protests from the Washoe Tribe.

1934: Beaver re-introduction to the Tahoe Basin started

Between 1934 and 1949, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Forest Service reintroduced North American beaver to the Tahoe Basin.

1934: Mail contract given to motorboat Marian B

In 1934, the mail contract around Lake Tahoe was given to the 42-foot motorboat Marian B, powered by two Chevrolet engines.

1935: Emerald (II) becomes fishing boat

In 1935, the 60-foot Emerald (II) left Lake Tahoe to become a fishing boat in San Diego.

1937: Rebuilding of Cal-Neva after fire

In 1937, the Cal-Neva was rebuilt following a fire.

1937: Crystal Bay Club Built

In 1937, the Crystal Bay Club was first built as the Ta-Neva-Ho on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe.

May 17, 1941: Marian B lost during storm

On May 17, 1941, the motorboat Marian B was lost during a storm while attempting mail delivery, resulting in the end of steamboat mail delivery around Lake Tahoe.

1942: Governor Stanford boiler used at Glenbrook Inn and Ranch

Until 1942, the boiler of the steamboat Governor Stanford was used for heating cottages at Glenbrook Inn and Ranch.

1944: Transplantation of non-native salmon

In 1944, non-native sockeye salmon were transplanted from the North Pacific to Lake Tahoe.

1945: Name officially changed to Lake Tahoe

In 1945, the California State Legislature officially changed the name back to Lake Tahoe, reversing its previous decision.

1955: First person to swim the length of Lake Tahoe

In 1955, Fred Rogers became the first person to swim the length of Lake Tahoe.

1957: League to Save Lake Tahoe Founded

In 1957, the League to Save Lake Tahoe was founded in response to a proposal to build a four-lane highway around the lake with a bridge over Emerald Bay's entrance.

1960: Development boom after Winter Olympics

The completion of interstate highway links for the 1960 Winter Olympics held at Olympic Valley resulted in a dramatic increase in development within the Lake Tahoe basin.

1962: First Woman to Swim the Length of Lake Tahoe

In 1962, Erline Christopherson became the first woman to swim the length of Lake Tahoe.

1963: Introduction of Opossum Shrimp

In 1963, opossum shrimp (Mysis diluviana) were introduced to Lake Tahoe to enhance the food supply for the Kokanee salmon.

1969: Lake Tahoe warming trend began

Analysis of temperature records in Lake Tahoe has shown that the lake warmed between 1969 and 2002 at an average rate of 0.027 °F (0.015 °C) per year.

1969: Cal-Neva Expansion

In 1969, the Cal-Neva underwent significant expansion, most notably with the construction of a high-rise hotel.

1969: Creation of Tahoe Regional Planning Agency

In 1969, the U.S. Congress and the California and Nevada State Legislatures created the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) to manage environmental protection in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

1970: Lake Tahoe mixing depth

Since 1970, Lake Tahoe has mixed to a depth of at least 1,300 ft (400 m) a total of six or seven times.

1971: Cladoceran Populations Virtually Disappear

By 1971, the opossum shrimp, introduced earlier, had fed on the lake's cladocerans (Daphnia and Bosmina), and their populations virtually disappeared.

December 9, 1972: All-time minimum temperature recorded

On December 9, 1972, the all-time minimum temperature of −16 °F (−27 °C) was recorded at the Lake Tahoe Airport.

1974: The Godfather Part II Filmed at Fleur de Lac

In 1974, the film The Godfather Part II used the lakeside estate Fleur de Lac as the location of several scenes.

Loading Video...

1980: Population peak and slowing development

By 1980, the permanent residential population around Lake Tahoe had increased to greater than 50,000, and the summer population grew to about 90,000. Development slowed due to land-use controls since the 1980s.

1980: Supreme Court hears border dispute case

In 1980, the Supreme Court of the United States partially heard a case regarding conflict over the legally binding nature of boundary surveys, where the doctrine of acquiescence was invoked.

1980: Amendment of Compact and creation of Tahoe Transportation District

In 1980, the U.S. Congress amended the Compact with public law 96-551, designating a new agency, the Tahoe Transportation District (TTD), to facilitate and implement Basin and regional transportation improvements/additions.

1980: Lake Tahoe Interagency Monitoring Program Established

Since 1980, the Lake Tahoe Interagency Monitoring Program (LTIMP) has been measuring stream discharge and concentrations of nutrients and sediment in up to 10 tributary streams in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

1987: Beaver population density

In 1987, the beaver population on the upper and lower Truckee River had reached a density of 0.72 colonies (3.5 beavers) per kilometer.

July 22, 1988: All-time maximum temperature recorded

On July 22, 1988, the all-time maximum temperature of 99 °F (37 °C) was recorded at the Lake Tahoe Airport.

1988: Filming of 'Things Change'

In 1988, the film 'Things Change' was also filmed at the west shore lakefront home of Ray and Dagmar Dolby.

Loading Video...

1996: Pineapple Express atmospheric river caused overflow

Around New Year 1996/1997, a Pineapple Express atmospheric river melted snow and caused Lake Tahoe and the Truckee River to overflow, inundating Reno and surrounding areas.

1997: Lowest Secchi depth recorded

In 1997, the lowest Secchi depth of 64.1 feet (19.5 m) was recorded for Lake Tahoe.

2002: Lake Tahoe warming trend ended

Analysis of temperature records in Lake Tahoe has shown that the lake warmed between 1969 and 2002 at an average rate of 0.027 °F (0.015 °C) per year.

September 2004: Ponderosa Ranch Closes

In September 2004, the Ponderosa Ranch, formerly the location of the TV series Bonanza, closed its doors after being sold to developer David Duffield.

Loading Video...

2006: Goldfish Observed in Lake Tahoe

Since 2006, goldfish have been observed in Lake Tahoe, growing to "giant size". These invasive species may have descended from former pets or fishing bait.

June 2007: Angora Fire

In June 2007, the Angora Fire burned approximately 3,100 acres throughout the South Lake Tahoe area. While the impact of ash on the lake's ecosystem is predicted to be minimal, the impact of potential future erosion is not yet known.

2010: Second lowest Secchi depth recorded

In 2010, the average Secchi depth, 64.4 feet (19.6 m), was the second lowest ever recorded for Lake Tahoe.

2011: Lake clarity increased

From 2011 to 2014, Lake Tahoe's clarity increased, improving by nearly 20 percent.

2014: Lake clarity increased

From 2011 to 2014, Lake Tahoe's clarity increased, improving by nearly 20 percent.

2014: Last Weekend Filmed

In 2014, the film Last Weekend, starring Patricia Clarkson and directed by Tom Dolby and Tom Williams, used the west shore lakefront home of Ray and Dagmar Dolby as the primary location for its interiors and exteriors.

Loading Video...

2018: Federal survey monument removed

Circa 2018, a federal survey monument was removed to the Lake Tahoe Historical Society.

2019: Microplastics found for the first time

In 2019, microplastics were found for the first time in Lake Tahoe by the Desert Research Institute, indicating pollution from local or global sources.

2019: Reintroduction of cutthroat trout

In 2019, reintroduction efforts started for the Lahontan cutthroat trout, which had been completely extirpated from Lake Tahoe in the early 20th century due to competition from introduced fish.

2021: NHL Hosted Outdoor Games

In 2021, the National Hockey League (NHL) hosted two outdoor games at Lake Tahoe.

2023: Updated measurements reveal high microplastic pollution

In 2023, updated measurements of microplastics in Lake Tahoe revealed some of the highest microplastic pollution concentrations found among 38 lakes and reservoirs measured.