The Gatekeeper’s Museum is a reconstruction of the original Gatekeeper’s Cabin, on the same site where the original stood until it was destroyed by arson fire in the early 1980s.
The original Gatekeeper’s cabin was built by Robert Montgomery Watson—also the builder of the Watson Cabin—to be the home of the Watermaster who controlled the flow of water out of Lake Tahoe. We still have a Watermaster, but s/he no longer lives in this cabin. Instead, the cabin showcases Tahoe history, from the Washoe people through the logging and mining eras and the establishment of the tourism industry at Lake Tahoe. Exhibits include Native American baskets, resort memorabilia, historical photographs, clothing, oral histories, maps, archival documents, newspapers and artifacts.
Our resource library allows researchers on-site access to historical documents. Copies of historic photographs can also be ordered and purchased from the Museum.
Some highlights include:
1916 Lake Tahoe Photographic Shore Line Survey Exhibit
Lake Tahoe Resorts & Clothing
Washoe history
Works from Dat-so-la-lee, Maggie Mayo James and other famous Washoe weavers
Steamers and boating history
1960 Olympics and skiing exhibits