On June 10th, 1910, a dedication ceremony was held at the Breen cabin's site, including members of the Donner Party in attendance! This dedication was to formally mark the spot that would, in about 8 years, hold the massive statue and support for the Donner Party Memorial. An immense granite cornerstone was inscribed and placed at the corner of the Breen cabin's site.
The inscription on the stone read, "This cornerstone marks the site of the Donner Party cabins where a monument will be erected under the auspices of The Native Sons of the Golden West to the pioneers that crossed the plains."
This evocative photograph shows CF Mc Glashan, Truckee attorney, who spearheaded the monument construction, speaking to the assembled audience. Sitting on the stand listening are three of the Donner Party survivors, Virginia Reed Murphy, Patty Reed Lewis, and dressed in white, Francis Donner Wilder. All three women would show up 8 years later for the monument dedication.