The Real Maiden’s Grave, California

In 1850, young Rachel traveled with her family to the promised land of California. They took the Carson River Route of the Emigrant Trail which crossed the Sierra Nevada Mountains, connecting Carson Valley and Woodfords on the east to Placerville on the west. As was all too frequent, Rachel became ill and died during the journey. Her family buried her under a fir tree in a meadow.

Fifty-five years later in 1904 or ’05, Rachel’s mother returned in an attempt to relocate her daughter’s grave and give her a Christian burial. She was certain she buried her daughter in the meadow below Tragedy Springs. Assisted by campers who were intrigued by the story, they searched but were unable to locate a grave. Word of the search spread and in 1908 visitors to Kirkwood Inn located an unmarked grave two miles to the west of the meadow. Assuming it belonged to Rachel, they started a collection and placed a headstone at the gravesite.

Rachel Melton

Died Oct. 4, 1850

Native of Iowa

Erected by Guests

At Kirkwood

1908

Rachel Melton’s Headstone

Years later, Steven Ferrari was clearing brush from his property below Tragedy Springs when he uncovered a rock outline marking a grave. It is believed this is the final resting place of Rachel Melton, matching the spot where her mother remembered leaving her. The site is now referred to as “The Real Maiden’s Grave”.

This leaves the question, who is buried at the first Maiden’s Grave? It turns out the grave was not that of Rachel and also not a maiden. It took years of research using journals and logs, but it is believed the original Maiden’s Grave contains the remains of Allen Melton.

After traveling 6 miles, we came to a place called Tragedy Springs…After traveling two miles farther we came to a trading post …A young man from Henry County, Named Allen Melton, died at this place during the night.

Crossing the Plains in 1850, William Edmonson

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There is more to the story. While pioneer diary entries identify Allen’s last name as “Melton,” there is no record of the Rachel or her mother’s last name. It was assumed to be “Melton” because campers who located the first grave saw the name on the wooden marker. Rachel’s mother left without giving her name. To this day, the last name of Rachel remains unknown. Even the name “Rachel” is uncertain. The name was recalled by two campers who met the maiden’s mother before she left and no other documents exist to confirm this.

We visited The Real Maiden’s Grave while following the Carson River Route of the Emigrant trail. Nearby you can visit Tragedy Springs.

Visited 8-16-2020

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References

• Calexplornia: The Maiden’s Grave: A Story of Hope, Loss and Mistaken Identity
• Fey, Marshall. Emigrant Trails: The Long Road to California, A history and Guide to the Emigrant Routes from Central Nevada to Crossing the Sierra. Nevada Publication, 2019. Pages 172.
• Historical Marker Database: Maiden’s Grave
• Sierra Nevada Geotourism: Maiden’s Grave (California Historical Landmark No. 28)
• Tortorich, Frank Jr. Gold Rush Trail: A guide to the Carson River Route of the Emigrant Trail. Wagon Wheel Tours, 1998. Pages 62-64.
• Waymarking: Carson Pass Highway – The Real “Maiden’s Grave”

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