Thursday, October 15th
Welcome to Redding!
We checked in at the Best Western PLUS Twin View Inn & Suites and met up with other attendees for our Welcome Reception at the Shasta Historical Society.
Friday, October 16th
Workshop “Hacking” Millennials
Kara McClure Downing, Curator of Education, Shasta Historical Society
This workshop was held in the Old City Hall Art Center auditorium. In 2013, Museum Hack was founded, specializing in giving tours to people who do not like museums. Their focus was 20-30 year olds, which is part of the elusive group known as “millennials.” Museum Hack has exploded in popularity. How can historical societies adapt Museum Hack’s techniques and make them work for us? In this session, discuss new ways to engage millennials and how to hold their attention through social media.
Walking Tour of Downtown Redding
Redding has an impressive historic downtown. We started at Redding’s historical “home base” at Shasta Historical Society and then continued to Old City Hall, made of native clay brick. Next, we explored Cascade Theatre, and learn about the major restoration project that made it possible to reopen this beautiful theater in 2004. And, concluded with a tour at the Behrens-Eaton House Museum and explore a range of artifacts, reflecting Shasta County’s early history.
Turtle Bay Exploration Park
We enjoyed a customized curator-led tour of key exhibitions at Turtle Bay Exploration Park. Then after that, we had the opportunity to explore everything Turtle Bay has to offer including walking across Redding’s famous Sundial Bridge, one of the largest sundials in the world, seeing beautiful botanical gardens, an arboretum, a forestry & wildlife center and the Turtle Bay Museum, which features historic re-creations, layered interpretative material, multimedia exhibits and science experiments.
Saturday, October 17th
Fort Crook Tour
Established in 1857 with equipment from the newly dismantled Fort Reading and named after Lt. George Crook, Fort Crook was established to protect freighters, settlers, emigrants and travelers who used the nearby Emigrant Road. By 1859, 28 structures and/or small log buildings existed inside its stockade walls and were used as officer's quarters, a hospital, mess hall, blacksmith shop, store, guard house, library, bowling alley, and a stable for 200 horses and mules. When government claim to the land was relinquished in 1881, local farmers tore down the stockades and most of the buildings. One log building survived and is now located at Fort Crook Museum. Several years of planning and hard work culminated in 2010 for the Fort Crook Historical Society when the reconstruction of the historic Beaver Creek Ranch Round Barn was completed. Hear the details of this impressive project as well as meet key volunteers for the historical society, many of which are family members of the first settlers.
Burney Falls Tour
See the place that Teddy Roosevelt once described as, "The Eighth Natural Wonder of the World". Once you see it for yourself, you’ll know why he was so captivated! Located among the towering volcanoes of the Cascade Range, Burney Falls was formed by springs running year round, flowing through the porous basalt left behind by previous eruptions and lava flows. Learn everything you want to know about this beautiful natural site with a Ranger led tour and explore the brand new Visitor Center, opened in May 2015, featuring a variety of exhibits and artifacts that display local history.
Shingletown
Founded as a shingle camp in 1850, Shingletown met the large demand of gold miners for shingles and shakes with an abundance of cedar and sugar pine trees in the area. Shingletown was also strategically located at the junction of three popular roads from east to west, including the Nobles Emigrant Trail. Today, the shingle and shake making camps and the big lumber mills are long gone from the forests around Shingletown, although traces of many of the larger mills can be found in the forest. Emigrant Trail road signs are still posted on the north side of the highway, and if you know where to look, you can still see the ruts in the ground left by the covered wagons as they rolled along. The visit to Shingletown will be one to remember: hosted by the historical society and citizens of Shingletown, you’ll enjoy a personalized tour and historical presentation about the town’s history. You’ll also get the chance to “break bread” with the citizens of Shingletown, so you can learn even more about what makes this place so special.
