A Hidden Gem in Tahoe

Ever since I moved to South Lake Tahoe two months ago to work at Tallac Historic Site, I have been surprised daily to discover how few locals know the historic site exists. Tallac is located next to Camp Richardson and Fallen Leaf Lake Campground – an area most folks are familiar with – and yet locals constantly wander onto the site from the beach and announce they had no idea this place was here.

Tallac Historic Site has so much to offer for people from all walks of life – Tahoe locals and tourists alike. It’s a beautiful location, right on the lake shore, with incredible gardens, fascinating historic buildings, and a variety of interpretive programs each day of the week. A visitor to the site can wander through the Baldwin Museum and see exhibits, enjoy a brief video about the site, and learn more about the families who lived here. Interpretive tours of the late 19th century Pope House are offered by knowledgeable volunteers six days a week. The blacksmith and the artist in residence demonstrate their crafts for visitors to see. A vintage clothing exhibit showcases the evolution of styles from 1860-1940. Living history programs allow visitors to meet some of the characters who lived in the homes on the property, and learn more about the opulent lifestyle of wealthy families in the 1920s.

Many people have heard of our annual Great Gatsby Festival, which is the largest single fundraiser for the site – now in its 32nd year. The Festival, along with the Gatsby Tea and Fashion Show, are wonderful opportunities for visitors of all ages to partake in 1920's themed festivities including music, vintage cars and clothing, a speakeasy, tours, cooking programs, and children's games. But there is so much more for a visitor to experience during the rest of the season!

“It gives us a picture of what life was like before us, and it helps to complete who we are today,” volunteer Lois Gottfredson told me in a recent interview. “Our past always helps us to determine what we would like to have going forward. I think it’s really great for children and adults to learn the struggles as well as the wealth of our past.”

There is nowhere else quite like Tallac Historic Site in the Tahoe area. With huge grounds and several estates on stunning National Forest System land, and programs happening so often, this site is a unique and wonderful place to go – a hidden gem in Tahoe. It is run through cooperation between the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and the Tahoe Heritage Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve and protect the cultural heritage and natural history resources of the Lake Tahoe Basin through restoration, interpretation, and education.

We are always looking for volunteers to help us keep our site alive! You can learn more about our site, what we have to offer, and how you can get involved on the web: www.tahoeheritage.org.

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