The Record-courier. [volume] (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1904-current, 1924-03-28
HOW LAKE TAHOE
WAS NAMED
Famous Sheet of Water
Was Known as Lake
Bigler

Mark Twain, In Innocents Abroad,
number of peopel than any other OF
ally on the name Of Lake Tahoe; the
latter word. he says, means grass
hopper SOUP" Notwithstanding the
disapproval of the great humorist,
and whatever the meaning of the
word. 1t Is there to stay. and doubt
less with satisfaction to a greater
been given to the famous body OF
the several appellationss that have
been given to the famous body Of
water.
According to available records,
the discovery of Tahoe was made
by Fremont in February Ia, 1S44-
this of course ignoring the Indian
knowledge of 1t from the beginning
of tribal habitation of the region.
Fremont called 1t "Bonpland." after
a Frenchman scientific explorer; on
another map he named 1t Mountain
Lake"
Not much attention seems to have
lake either. after Fremont's visit un-
til the first official map of California
was produced in 1853. Then 1t ap-
peared on the may as Lake Bigler,"
after the Golden States third gov
ernor, and that unmuscal title
threatened to stick 1t was officially
known as Bigler until 1862, though
an effort was made in 1861 to change
the name to ''Tula Tulia."
In 1862 one William Henry Knight.
a member of an overland company
crossing the plains In 1859. took up
the question of naming. He wrote
the following description of the lake:
"My first view OF that beautiful
sheet of water was from pro-
jecting cliff 1000 feet above its sur
face, and IL embraces not only
the entire outline of the lake with
the charming bays and rocky head
lands but also the magnificent forests
of giant pines and frs In which It
was embossomed, and the dozen of
more lofty mountainpeaks thrusting
their white submits into the sky at
attitudes varying from 5000 to H.
900 feet above sea level.
THE view was indeed the most
wonderful combination of towering
mountains. widespread valley. gleam-
ing lakes, outrageous forests. rug
ged buttresses OF granite. flashing
streams. tumbling waterfalls. and
overarching sky of deepest ceruleaB
hue, all blended into Inc perfect
mosaic OF the beautiful. the pictur-
esque and the majestic that mortal
eye ever rested upon.
mo imagination can conceive the
beauty and inspiration of that scene,
especially to one who had for weary
months been travelling dusty, treoless
and barren plains. The contrast was
overwhelming. Tears filled my eyes
as ! gazed upon the fairy scene.
recall the enhancing picture today,
was 1t photographed upon my brain
=. doubt II another scene of
equal enehantment exists on the face
of the globe.
I'm 1861. | gathered the data of
the Pacific States. I had instructed
the draughtsman to omit the name
of Lake Bigler, which was on con-
temporary maps.
81 invited John s. Hittell. editor
of the Alta California. and DIR. II.
DeGroot, writer on the Evening
Bulletin and correspondent of the
able Sacramento Union. to come
round to Bancroft's publishing house
and inspect the map.
"Dr. Detroit turned to me and
said Why. knight. you have left
on the name OF Lake Bigler.' /
remarked that many people had
expressed dissatisfaction with that
name bestowed in honor of Gov
ernor of California who had not
distinguished himself by any signal
achievement and | thought that now
would be good time to select an
appropriate name and fix 1t forever
on that beautiful sheet of water.
"The suggestion met with favor,
and several names were proposed
Continued on Page Three)