The Nevada County Historical Landmarks Commission is delighted to announce that the site and remains of the 1870s Mount Lola Geodetic Survey was designated as Nevada County Historical Landmark NEV 25-07 on August 12, 2025 by the County Board of Supervisors at its Truckee meeting.
The landmark will commemorate work done in the 1870s by Prof. George Davidson and his team from the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. They developed quadrilateral base line measurements which served as the primary triangulation method for surveying and mapping the West Coast of the United States until the advent of GPS satellite navigation in the 1980s. Prof. Davidson worked from atop Mount Lola where evidence of his work remains. The mountain is named for the legendary Lola Montez, who lived in Nevada County in the 1850s.
Mount Lola is located in the Tahoe National Forest and the Forest Service does not intend to place a marker on the site. Anyone wishing to visit the site should remember that it is a long and arduous hike to the 9143 elevation.
The site will be featured in the next edition of the Commission’s interactive map and e-guide, which can be accessed from our website (nevadacountylandmarks.com) or the County website.
The e-guide is an electronic book cataloging all the over 200 historical landmarks in the County, and is available for any smartphone or tablet from Apple or Amazon. Go to You Bet Press (youbetpress.com) to find clickable links.
The purpose of the Nevada County Historical Landmarks Commission is to promote the general welfare of Nevada County and its citizens through official recognition, recording, marking, preserving and promoting the historical resources of Nevada County. For more information, please call 415-264-7230.