The Shaft – A Monument to Snowshoe Thompson

Latitude 38.695353
Longitude -119.989770
City Carson Summit, Hwy 50
State CA
General Location Next to the parking lot at the top of Carson Pass
Dedicated 1977

Plaque Text

Front Face:

SNOWSHOE THOM(P)SON

(JOHN TOSTENSEN)

A TRUE PIONEER

“…there ought to be a shaft raised to Snow-Shoe Thompson; not of marble, not carved and not planted in the valley, but a rough shaft of basalt or granite, massive and tall, with top ending roughly, as if broken short, to represent a life which was strong and true to the last. And this should be upreared on the summit of the mountains over which the strong man wandered so many years, as an emblem of that life which was worn out apparently without an object…” Attributed to Dan Dequille, Territorial Enterprise, May 19 1876

Dedicated this 10th day of July 1977, as a founded and endorsed Bicentennial Project, by the Nevada Members of the Ancient & Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus

The other plaques on the monument list major donors as follows:

Left side:

MAJOR DONORS

  • Harry O’Brien – XNGH ECV 1827
  • Carroll Pepperdine – XNGH ECV 73
  • John W. Riggs, Sr. – XNGH ECV 1827
  • John W. Riggs, Jr. RENO SOCA
  • Elwood “Woody” Riggs ECV 1827
  • William J. Schefolk – XNGH ECV 1827
  • Robert Sillery ECV 1827
  • Merion “Bud” Smith ECV 1850
  • Royal A. Stewart ECV 1827
  • Jack M. Wiley ECV 49
  • Lee Winje ECV 10
  • Thomas E Vinson ECV 13
  • Bucket of Blood Saloon, Virginia City NV
  • City Investments ECV 1827
  • Delta Saloon Virginia City NV
  • Liberty Belle Saloon Reno NV
  • Precision Eyeballing Virginia City NV
  • Rusty’s Saloon (XNGH Clyde) Bishop CA 395
  • The Good People of Alpine County

Front side:

MAJOR DONORS E CLAMPUS VITUS CHAPTERS

  • Julia C. Bulette 1864
  • Snowshoe Thomson 1827
  • Chief Truckee 3691
  • Wm. Bull Meek – Wm. Morris Stewart 10
  • Sam Brannan 1004
  • Bodie 64
  • Growlersburg 86
  • Humbug 73
  • Frank C. Reilly
  • Joaquin Murrieta 13
  • Lord Sholto Douglas 3
  • Trinitarianus 62
  • New Helvetia 5
  • James Marshall 49
  • Yerba Buena 1
  • Platrix 2
  • Mt. Charlie 1850
  • Jim Savage 1852
  • Slim Princess 395
  • Squibob
  • Transierra Roisterous Alliance of Senior Humbugs

Right Side:

MAJOR DONORS

  • Perry W. Andreas ECV 1864
  • Bert & Torke Carver Genoa NV
  • John Gladianos ECV 1864
  • Fred Dressler Ranch – XNGH ECV 1827
  • Marshall A. Fey – XNGH ECV 1864
  • Doug Ford – ECV 1827
  • Laurence H. “Pop” Ford ECV 1827
  • H. Jack Galbraith ECV 1827
  • Theodore & Helen Garland Virgina City NV
  • Ted Garrett ECV 1864
  • Dale Goings – NGH ECV 1827
  • Hal Goodyear – XSNGH ECV 62
  • Big Tom Hagelstein – XNGH ECV 1866
  • Ernest John Jones – ECV 1827
  • Ed Larsen ECV 1827
  • Olav Larsen – XNGH ECV Squibob
  • Si Leachman ECV 1827
  • Ernest Allen Lewis – XNGH ECV 3691
  • Don “Moose” Moore ECV 1827

Walt Nelson ECV 1864

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