Donner Memorial State Park Museum, Truckee

About Donner Memorial State Park Museum

Donner Memorial State Park Museum in Truckee features artifacts and stories spanning multiple chapters of regional history. The museum opened in 2015 and presents the Emigrant Experience, including accounts of the Donner Party, the Land of the Washoe, Chinese railroad construction, and early motoring adventures over Donner Pass. The Multipurpose Theater offers state-of-the-art audiovisual systems for presentations. Inside, an expanded information center provides interactive kiosks for exploring connections to other state parks. Outside the building, a self-guided tour passes the Donner Party's Murphy family cabin site and extends along a paved path to the Pioneer Memorial, topped by a forward-looking pioneer family sculpture. A museum store offers keepsakes for visitors of all ages. The site suits history enthusiasts and those interested in California's emigrant and Native American heritage.