
View of Truckee Lake from Donner Pass.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
1. Abraham Lincoln was almost a member of the Donner Party.

- Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
2. An intercepted letter may have sealed the Donner Party's fate.

Map of the route taken by the Donner Party showing Hastings Cutoff
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
3. At least four people were deliberately killed during the trip.
4. The Mexican-American War delayed rescue efforts for the Donner Party.

James and Margret Reed.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
5. Most of the snowbound emigrants were children.
6. One determined savior went through a grueling process to rescue children.
7. There were far more male casualties than female in the Donner Party.

Stumps of trees cut at the Alder Creek site by members of the Donner Party.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
8. Nearly all of the solo travelers perished.