It is home to more than 800 baskets, pottery, clothing, dolls and artifacts from over 90 tribes nationwide.

How appropriate for this Lake Tahoe landmark that sits on the site of a known Washoe Indian campsite. The Marion Steinbach Indian Basket Museum at the Gatekeeper’s Museum.

The Marion Steinbach Indian Basket Museum was added to the Gatekeeper’s Museum in 1992, after the collection was donated to the North Lake Tahoe Historical Society. The museum includes an exquisite basket collection including works from Dat-so-la-lee, Maria Martinez, Maggie Mayo James and other famous Washoe weavers.

Steinbach’s deep appreciation of the art of basket weaving inspired her life long passion for finding the few Indian women who were weaving fine baskets using traditional methods. Marion was driven to preserve this tradional art form and meticulously cataloged her observation’s of the women’s techniques to ensure fine basket making would not become a lost art. Her entire collection is on display in Tahoe.

Today, the Gatekeeper’s and Marion Steinbach Indian Basket Museum Store sells fine basketry separate from the museum’s collection, along with other Tahoe memorabilia including books and photography that capture Tahoe’s legacy.

Gatekeeper’s Museum

Located at the outlet of the Truckee River in Tahoe City, the Gatekeeper’s Museum is a replica of the original cabin, built in 1909, that served as the home of the resident gatekeeper, whose duties included the measuring and regulation of Tahoe’s water level.

After the original cabin was destroyed by fire in 1978, the current Gatekeeper’s Museum was hand carved from Lodgepole Pines on the same foundation. The museum features the history of Lake Tahoe, natural history displays and exhibits of the 1916 Lake Tahoe Photographic Shore Line Survey and 1960 Olympics.

Whether your interest is Native American history, basketry, the westward movement, or the development of the Tahoe basin, our Museum has something to appeal to everyone.

Gatekeeper’s Museum
130 W. Lake Blvd. at the Truckee River Outlet (Fanny Bridge) in Tahoe City
(530) 583-176

Winters Hours of Operation:
Open 11 am to 5pm, Friday and Saturday only

Museum admission is free to NLTHS members (memberships start at $30, with student memberships available for $5); $5 general admission; $4 seniors; children under 12 free with a paying adult. It is a Blue Star museum, so active military personnel and their families are free.

For more information, please contact the Gatekeeper’s Museum at 530.583.1762 or info@northtahoemuseums.org2