Great Basin Timeline

 

Archeological Dates

• 10,000 years ago is the estimated date that Native American settled the Great Basin area.
• 1,000 years ago Pueblo cultures inhabited the area probably forcing out the Fremont culture.
• 800 years ago human remains were deposited in the natural entrance of the cave.

Historical Dates

• 1826-Jedediah Smith crosses Snake Range at Sacramento Pass.
• 1843-1844-John Fremont passes through eastern Nevada.
• 1859- Mormons establish a settlement in Snake Valley.
• 1871-Gold discovered at Osceola.
• 1873-1877-Osceola at its mining peak.
• 1885-Ab Lehman discovers cave in the spring and had installed ladders and stairs throughout the cave by the fall, tours begin. (Discovery date is questionable.)
• 1891-Ab Lehman dies in Salt Lake City, October 11.
• 1892-C. W. Rowland buys Lehman's ranch.
• 1909 -Nevada Forest Service established in the area surrounding the cave.
• 1912-The cave is added to the Forest Service.
• 1920-Clarence Rhodes takes control of the management of the cave.
• 1922- President Harding proclaims Lehman Caves a National Monument. Rhodes continues operation of the cave for the National Forest Service.
• 1933-Lehman Caves National Monument is transferred to the National Park Service jurisdiction on June 10th.
• 1937-Entrance tunnel was started and finished in 1939.
• 1941-Electric lights installed in the cave.
• 1963-New Visitor Center/Administration/Café Building is dedicated.
• 1970-Exit tunnel was completed.
• 1974-Concrete trails installed in cave.
• 1981-Talus Room was deleted from the regular tour route.
• 1986-Great Basin National Park is established and Lehman Caves National Monument is incorporated into the Park on October 27th.
• 2005 - Great Basin Visitor Center in Baker, Nevada, was completed.