FREMONT AND THE DISCOVERY OF LAKE TAHOE Like so many other great discoveries that were to have an important effect upon the lives of countless numbers of people, the discovery of Lake Tahoe was accidental.

Nor did its finder comprehend the vast influence it was to possess, not only upon the residents of California and Nevada, but upon the travel-loving and sight-seeing portion of the population of the whole world.
John C.Fremont, popularly acclaimed "the pathfinder," was its discoverer, on the 14th day of February, 1844.

In the journal of his 1843-44 expedition he thus records the first sight of it: Accompanied by Mr.Preuss, I ascended to-day the highest peak to the right from which we had a beautiful view of a mountain lake at our feet, about fifteen miles in length, and so nearly surrounded by mountains that we could not discover an outlet.
It cannot be deemed out of place in these pages, owing to the significance of the discovery by Fremont, to give a brief account of the exploration and its purposes, in the carrying out of which Tahoe was revealed to the intrepid and distinguished explorer.
Fortunately for us, Fremont left a full story of his experiences in the Nevada country, complete in detail, and as fresh and vivid as if but written yesterday.

This account, with illuminating Introduction, and explanatory notes by James U.Smith, from whose pioneer father Smith Valley is named, was republished in the _Second Biennial Report of the Nevada Historical Society_, from which, with the kind permission of the secretary, Professor Jeanne Elizabeth Wier, the following extracts are made.
Fremont had already made his first exploration of the Rocky Mountains and South Pass in the summer of 1842.

It was in this expedition that, standing on the highest peak of the Rockies, he looked down into the vast area beyond, known as the Great Basin, comprising with its mountain ranges the whole western portion of the continent of North America.