The Donner Project: A Capital Campaign

The Donner Project

Donner Memorial State Park sits at the gateway to California. It features an inviting new Visitor Center where guests learn about the history of the area and the challenges emigrants faced crossing the Sierra Divide on their way west. The 1918 Pioneer Monument, a major feature of the park, was in dire need of repair after over 100 Truckee winters, and thanks to the generosity of our donors restoration was completed in July 2022.

Now, we're entering the second phase of The Donner Project. 

The Pioneer Monument sits awkwardly alone in the center of a worn and empty landscape environment, and it is begging for a feature to accommodate outdoor groups. This is why we are adding places that encourage families to share stories, friends to explore, and groups to interact with our distinctive past. Well-designed sustainable landscaped spaces will unify the environment and inspire and foster a sense of belonging further recognizing our shared heritage. 

Your Help Is Needed To:

• Enhance the walking path around the monument including ADA accessibility improvements and connectivity to existing trails.
• Protect the monument from visitors climbing on it to help preserve the recently completed restoration work.
• Provide small and large group gathering areas around the monument – perfect for classrooms and youth groups to hold education programs.
• Install native plants and vegetation to sustainably contribute to the ecosystem.

Our Shared Impact

The Sierra State Parks Foundation and the Historic Preservation Foundation of the Native Sons of the Golden West have partnered with California State Parks to raise the needed funds to complete this shared vision of The Donner Project. 

Together, We Can Complete The Donner Project.