Featured Exhibit

Gar Wood’s Tahoe Legacy

Since the arrival of Lake Tahoe’s first Gar Wood in 1927, these boats have become part of the lake’s unique maritime history. The art deco features, powerful engines, and rich mahogany wood reflect the nation’s style and desire to enjoy their newly developed speed capabilities. Through displays of vintage advertisements, archival photographs, and three large motorboats, this exhibit tells the story of the development of Gar Wood’s company and its presence in Lake Tahoe.

Exhibit highlights:

3 Full size Gar Wood Motorboats

Archival Photographs

Tahoe Powerboat Club Racing Trophies

Permanent Displays

The Jevarian Outboard Motor Collection

Discover the various types and the mechanics behind outboard motors through viewing this piece of the museum’s outboard motor collection. Accompanied by an informational video, this display will help guests grapple with the magnitude of the outboard industry.

Shanghai

In 2000, the Alstom Shilling Robotics Company from Davis, California stumbled across the submerged vessel that we known today as Shanghai. Over the course of the next few years scientists worked to raise her and then place her in a state of arrested decay. Learn about Shanghai’s early life and recovery through the text and photo display surrounding one of Tahoe’s oldest residents.

Truckee Annex

Filled with rare boats too large for the Homewood site, a visit to the Truckee Annex is a must for hard core boat lovers. This portion of the museum is available for viewing during scheduled open houses but groups may also enjoy this display by calling ahead of time for an appointment: 530-525-9253

Collections

Tahoe Maritime Museum’s collections features a wide array of important vessels, engines, and documents that each speaks to an important piece of Lake Tahoe’s culture and development. Through exploring our interpretive displays and rich archives, guests and researchers alike will gain a better understanding of this important part of Tahoe’s past and present.

Collections Highlights

Shanghai, an 1890s steam launch salvaged from the bottom of the Lake

Early Tahoe Yacht Club Records

Jevarian Outboard Motor Collection

Tahoe Miss Photographs and Ephemeral Materials

Download a PDF of our Collection Highlights here.

Watercrafts

The Tahoe Maritime Museum boat collection rivals many maritime museums in the nation. Currently there are over 30 vessels ranging from a salvaged 1890s steam launch to luxurious 1960s powerboats. Many of the boats are lake-worthy and see service on Lake Tahoe’s crystal blue waters during the summer. The combination of work, race, and leisure boats in the museum’s collection help us tell the story of Lake Tahoe’s and the nation’s maritime history.

Engines and Motors

Gathered through large donations and reconstructed through small finds here are there, the museum boasts a diverse collection of outboard and inboard engines.

Library and Archives

The museum’s archives are full of helpful and hard to find books and magazines about Tahoe’s Maritime history and the development of the boating culture and industry.