Why Is Lake Tahoe Not a National Park?
The answer consists of two words: economics and politics.
In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln appointed Orion Clemens, a resident of Missouri, as the Secretary of the Nevada Territory. When Orion traveled west to assume his new role, his younger brother Sam went with him.
Upon arrival, Sam took a job as a miner and later became a local newspaper reporter. During this time, he had his first encounter with Lake Tahoe and exclaimed:
“To breathe the same air as the angels, you must go to Tahoe.”
The young man later gave himself another name: Mark Twain.
Lake Tahoe is a body of deep blue water surrounded by snow-capped peaks straddling the state line of California and Nevada. It attracts visitors from all over the world and is a favorite weekend destination for the San Francisco Bay Area residents.
I visit Lake Tahoe often, skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer. Regardless of the season, I always find the stunning vista and the crystal clear water enchanting. According to the Tahoe Fund¹, 15 million people visit Lake Tahoe annually, more than…
