Today in History is a daily newsletter from Britannica. (more) Today in History—February 19: The Donner Party’s Devastating Predicament Written by Tara Ramanathan Assistant Technology Editor at Encyclopedia Britannica. Tara Ramanathan Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Feb. 18, 2026 •History On this day in 1847, the first of four rescue teams arrived to save the famously ill-fated Donner party from where they sat stranded in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Today in History is a daily newsletter from Britannica.Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Want to learn more about what happened on February 19, or any other day of the year? Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox every morning. The initial group included the families of George and...

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