The Donner Party’s westward migration and encampment in the Sierra during the winter of 1846-47 has become one of the most studied tragedies in California history

Donner Memorial State Park recently premiered a new 26‑minute visitor center film that offers an updated and more inclusive telling of the Donner Party story and the deep history of the region.

Produced by Anna Lee-Poli of OwlEye Media, the film replaces a decades‑old 1982 production that contained historical inaccuracies. The new film screens daily at the park’s visitor center.

The production marks the first time the Washoe Tribe has been able to publicly share its own historical accounts of the events surrounding the Donner Party, weaving together oral traditions and modern historical research. The new film is the result of a partnership between California State Parks, the Sierra State Parks Foundation and the Washoe Tribe.

Spotlighting the Indigenous inhabitants

The film begins with the Washoe Tribe’s creation story and lays out the tribe’s thousands of years of history in the Tahoe Sierra long before the arrival of American migrants in the mid‑1800s. That foundation leads visitors into the story of the Donner Party, also known as the Donner–Reed Party — a group of American pioneers traveling west from the Midwest to California by wagon train.

A series of setbacks slowed the Donner Party’s progress, ultimately leaving them stranded in the Sierra Nevada during the brutal winter of 1846–47. By early November, the group had reached the Sierra but were trapped near Truckee Lake (now Donner Lake) due to the unexpectedly heavy snowfall. Their food supplies quickly dwindled, and in mid‑December several members attempted to trek out on foot to find assistance. The group resorted to cannibalism, which fueled newspaper reports and lasting infamy.

Rescue efforts from California followed, but the first relief party did not arrive until mid‑February 1847 — nearly four months after the migrants were snowbound.

Of the 87 pioneers who set out, only 48 survived. The ordeal remains one of the most compelling and tragic chapters in California history and the broader story of American westward migration.

Utilizing new tools

The new film not only enhances the historical narrative, but it also delivers a significant visual refresh. Modern cinematography, archival imagery, interviews and animation have replaced the older production, creating a more engaging experience for visitors before they explore the museum’s exhibits.

State Parks officials noted it was important to update the film to help visitors better understand the people, cultures and history that have shaped the landscape surrounding Donner Memorial State Park — land that has served as home to the Washoe people for thousands of years.

The film concludes with a message of stewardship, inviting audiences to care for the land and its history.

Donner Memorial State Park, established by the State of California in 1927, continues to be one of the region’s most visited historical destinations, drawing roughly 200,000 visitors annually. The new film enhances that experience, offering a more complete and culturally informed understanding of a story long known — and now newly told.

About Donner Memorial State Park 

Offers hiking and recreation opportunities along Donner Lake and contains a historic monument and visitor center exhibits paying tribute to pioneers crossing the Sierra Nevada. Learn more on the park’s website.

PLACER COUNTY FILM OFFICE

Juli Johnston, Film Program Liaison
530-889-4091
filmoffice@placer.ca.gov