# @sachistorymuseum on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/C4Y921eyfRy
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/76084987-sachistorymuseum-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/e65d61c75c.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-03-11T22:05:50.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Sacramento History Museum (@sachistorymuseum) — https://gondola.cc/sachistorymuseum

## Caption

March 11, 1847

On this day in 1847, nine-year-old Martha Jane “Patty” Reed arrived at Sutter’s Fort (in present-day Midtown Sacramento) after spending almost 4 and a half months snowbound in the Sierra near Truckee Lake (now Donner Lake) with members of the Donner Party. The rest of her family were already recuperating at Sutter’s Fort since they were rescued by the First Relief Party about a week prior. 

After crossing the Great Salt Lake Desert, at the end of August 1846, Patty Reed was supposed to leave a small doll with much of her family’s belongings along the trail, as the Reeds had to consolidate supplies to one wagon. Disobeying her mother’s orders, Patty hid that small wooden doll in her apron pocket. It is on this day that “Dolly” was at Sutter’s Fort for the first time. 

Over her lifetime, Patty Reed collected historical materials pertaining to the Donner Party and early California history. In 1946, Patty Reed’s family donated her collection, including the doll, to Sutter’s Fort where it has often been displayed since the late 1940s (not currently however). Many elementary school children, especially 4th grade students learning about California history, read the book “Patty Reed’s Doll: The Story of the Donner Party (1956)” by Rachel K. Laurgaard.

Photograph of Patty Reed ca. 1850 as a teenager and Patty Reed’s doll, courtesy of California State Parks.
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#TodayInHistory #OnThisDay #donnerparty #sachistorymuseum #Sacramento #suttersfort #pattyreed #sacramentohistory #californiahistory

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## Credits

No public credits are recorded here. This does not identify who made the post.

## Tags

sacramentohistory, sacramento, todayinhistory, californiahistory, onthisday, donnerparty, suttersfort, sachistorymuseum, pattyreed

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