Beauty and sadness takes the spotlight in tribute to lake

The first major historical art survey of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra's infamous Donner Pass takes an ambitious trip through two centuries, highlighting the roles of Native Americans and railway barons and the tourists and scientists trying to halt the loss of clarity in the azure waters.

Tahoe: A Visual History opened on Saturday at the Nevada Museum of Art, featuring more than 400 objects by 175 painters, photographers, architects, basket weavers and sculptors.

Arranged chronologically for the most part, it combines culturally and historically significant creations with contemporary works.