Lake Tahoe's Rustic Architecture

Lake Tahoe is the gem of the Sierra Nevada. Those who visit this beautiful "e;Lake of the Sky"e; may share Mark Twain's impression of the place as he camped on its shore in 1861: "e;As it lay there with the shadows of the mountains brilliantly photographed upon its still surface I thought it must surely be the fairest picture the whole earth affords."e; Twain's quote, from Roughing It, includes the trinity of Tahoe's landscape--sky, mountains, and lake--that people still find inspiring. This explains, in large part, why the man-made environment around the lake is predominantly rustic, a style of architecture noted for its compatibility with its surroundings through the use of natural materials in construction--logs, stone, and wooden shingle--along with muted shades of green and brown. Through its homes, resorts, and other assorted buildings, Lake Tahoe remains "e;the fairest picture."e;