The history of the Sierra Nevada is a study in contrasts.

The history of the Sierra Nevada is equals parts heroic effort and tragic consequences.  It is a legacy of golden dreams and shattered hopes. 

The history of the Sierra Nevada is feverish exploitation and hard-won preservation.  It is an account of constant commemoration and the promise of a clean slate.  It is a heritage of celebrated racial diversity and shameful discrimination.

The history of the Sierra Nevada is invention and re-invention in a land apart.  It is a story as old as the sunset and as new as the dawn -- the eternal human drama enacted on a monumental stage.

Welcome to the “History Gallery” of the Sierra Nevada Virtual Museum.