Then and now: A 156-year-old hairpin turn

A handwritten note on the back of this photo has an illegible name and says "At 'U' turn near Kingsbury Grade Look-Out Point on way to Minden, Nevada 8/1/51."

A handwritten note on the back of this photo has an illegible name and says “At ‘U’ turn near Kingsbury Grade Look-Out Point on way to Minden, Nevada 8/1/51.” Photo/Del Laine Collection Lake Tahoe Historical Society

Kingsbury Grade in 1951 was barely one lane wide and entirely unpaved, with treacherous turns. It was closed in winter.

That hairpin turn in the black and white photo has been removed, with its remnants today seen here. Photo/Bill Kingman

That hairpin turn in the black and white photo has been removed, with its remnants today seen here. Photo/Bill Kingman

Kingsbury Grade on the Carson Valley side was paved and mostly rerouted by the early 1970s.

The original Kingsbury route also has this special history. Photo/Bill Kingman

The original Kingsbury route also has this special history. Photo/Bill Kingman

— Bill Kingman