eBook
Library of Congress

Loc: American Memory: Expedition of the Donner Party

For Students 9th - 10th
The youngest daughter of George Donner tells the harrowing tale of her family's ill-fated journey at this site from the Library of Congress. This is primary source material.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Donner Party

For Students 9th - 10th
The gruesome story of the Donner Party is a cautionary tale of poor planning. Read about the survivors and those who did not live to see their dreams of California.
Graphic
PBS

New Perspectives on the West: The Sierra Nevadas

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief description and map of Sierra Nevada Mountains. Describes the struggle of Charles Crocker to build the transcontinental railroad through the Sierra Nevadas.
Website
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: James Beckwourth 1798 1867

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn about the exciting adventures of mountain man James Beckwourth as he explored the Western wilderness.
Website
Other

Oregon California Trails Association: New Light on the Donner Party

For Students 9th - 10th
The myths, mysteries, and facts are revealed at this Donner Party site. At the beginning of November 1846, a group of California-bound immigrants was trapped by snow in the Sierra Nevada. By the time the last member reached safety six...
Handout
Utah Education Network

Uen: Utah History Encyclopedia: Donner Party

For Students 9th - 10th
This article recounts the tragic Donner Party, a wagon train bound for California in 1846 whose members resorted to cannibalism after getting stuck in the winter snow.
Handout
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum

Cprr Photographic History Museum: Locating the Central Pacific Railroad

For Students 9th - 10th
From a book "The First Transcontinental Railroad" by John Debo Galloway, a civil engineer, comes this comprehensive description of the topography of the route of the Central Pacific Railroad.
Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: Devils Postpile National Monument

For Students Pre-K - 1st
National Park Services offers a geological curiosity with Devils Postpile National Monument in Mammoth Lakes, California. Columnar basalt, Rainbow Falls, and Reds Meadow Valley are all part of this wonder just west of the crest of the...
Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: Devils Postpile National Monument

For Students Pre-K - 1st
National Park Services offers a geological curiosity with Devils Postpile National Monument in Mammoth Lakes, California. Columnar basalt, Rainbow Falls, and Reds Meadow Valley are all part of this wonder just west of the crest of the...
Primary
Museum of the City of San Francisco

Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco: California Before Gold Discovery

For Students 9th - 10th
From the "Century" magazine, an article from 1890 by James Bidwell who came to California in 1841.
Website
Other

Bobskiing.com: Bob's Free Heel Skiing in the Sierra

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes tours available in the Sierra Nevada, weather, and avalanche information. See webcam pictures. Discusses skiing in Sierra Nevada.
Graphic
University of Minnesota

Catalog Raisonne of the American Landscape Painter Gilbert Munger

For Students 9th - 10th
View a painting of the Truckee River in the Sierra Nevada Mountains