Kingsbury Grade
Douglas County, Douglas County, Nevada
Marker Inscription
Kingsbury Grade. Originally named Georgetown Trail, the Dagget Pass Trail and Pass was named after Charles Dagget who acquired the land at the base of the road in 1854. In 1859— 1860, David Kingsbury and John McDonald received a franchise from the Utah Territory to operate the toll road. At the time, the area was part of the Utah Territory.The men spent about $70,000 to construct a wagon road to meet the demand for a more direct route from California to the Washoe mines and to shorten the distance between Sacramento and Virginia City by ten miles. The new 16 foot wide road, supported in some places by granite retaining walls on both sides, made the passage easier for travelers on this main route from California. Merchants and teamsters frequently traveled this road moving goods and people in and out of Nevada.In 1863, some of the tolls were 50 cents for a man and horse and $2.00 for a horse and buggy. That year the estimated tolls collected were $75,000.
Erected by Nevada State Historic Preservation Office
The Story
In the frantic years after silver was struck on the Comstock Lode, getting men and freight over the Sierra crest became big business. In 1859–1860 David Kingsbury and John McDonald secured a franchise from the Utah Territory and spent roughly $70,000 carving a sixteen-foot wagon road—braced in places by granite retaining walls—up what had been the Georgetown and Daggett Pass trail. The new grade shortened the haul between Sacramento and Virginia City and quickly filled with merchants and teamsters paying tolls to reach the Washoe mines.
Why it matters
Toll roads like the Kingsbury Grade were the private infrastructure that made the mining rushes possible, knitting California's supply lines to Nevada's booming silver camps before railroads arrived.
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Related people
- · Charles Daggett
- · David Kingsbury
- · John McDonald
Related events
- · Comstock Lode silver rush
Themes & tags
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