Yeah, I just gave that link a cursory look and didn't get into why he thought the tunnel may have predated '42. One of these days perhaps. Maybe the bulkheads were added in 1942 to an existing tunnel?
Mueller Tunnel Theory
In addition to checking the historical aerial imagery, I also did an image search on the alleged 1887 etching, which is obviously not the head of Eaton Canyon. In fact it depicts Chinese workers alongside a railroad in the Sierra Nevada circa 1870. It's not hard to find the exact image and a similar one with accurate descriptions.
Also, the artist is named Aug. Miller, not Mueller.
Either the inventor of this theory is playing a joke on people, or he has been fooled by someone else. If you analyze his webpage, you'll find other big problems. He clearly doesn't know the area very well, and assumes too much when he should be checking his facts.
Also, the artist is named Aug. Miller, not Mueller.
Either the inventor of this theory is playing a joke on people, or he has been fooled by someone else. If you analyze his webpage, you'll find other big problems. He clearly doesn't know the area very well, and assumes too much when he should be checking his facts.
It appears that the "Aug. Miller" etching was based on this work attributed to Joseph Becker (sketch artist).
I searched for a photo of this scene. It might be the Donner Pass tunnels with some artistic liberty taken for the background.
So not only is this not Eaton Canyon, it's probably not an exact depiction of a Sierra Nevada scene either. It's a nice piece of art though.
I searched for a photo of this scene. It might be the Donner Pass tunnels with some artistic liberty taken for the background.
So not only is this not Eaton Canyon, it's probably not an exact depiction of a Sierra Nevada scene either. It's a nice piece of art though.