This month’s Artifact of the Month features a beautiful watercolor of the Shurtleff House by Mabel Moores Frisbie. Built in 1851 by Gold Rush pioneer Dr. Benjamin Shurtleff, the home no longer stands — but Mabel’s painting preserves its grandeur and tells the story of life in early Shasta.
Discover more about the house, the Shurtleff family, and Mabel’s work.
Discover how a 1930s doll in Turtle Bay’s collection connects to a larger story of African American history, identity, and pioneering doll makers. From challenging stereotypes to inspiring generations, learn why this artifact is February’s Artifact of the Month.
It may be small, but this slot machine has a big story to tell. Learn how a once-illegal gambling device made its way into Turtle Bay’s Collection and what it reveals about the history of slot machines and gambling.
Saturday, April 12, 1997, Turtle Bay Exploration Park (Then Turtle Bay Museums and Arboretum on the River) opened its first new, post-merger attraction, Paul Bunyan’s Forest Camp. The free event launched the beginning of the Turtle Bay build-out and was the first public physical manifestation of the hard work of The Forest Museum, founded 14 years earlier. The camp also provided a gateway for public access to the Interpretive Forest planted in 1992/1993.
