This Artifact of the Month was presented as a “Mystery Object”. While we could easily look in our database to identify it, we wanted to see if enough guests were curious enough to reveal the true nature of this artifact – a device that is scarcely used today.
What began as a simple search for the artist behind a whimsical folk art painting turned into a fascinating journey through Shasta County history. Follow the clues behind Noble Castle, uncover the lives of the people connected to it, and discover how one painting became a window into the region's past.
From commemorative plates to the iconic Bicentennial quarter, souvenirs help tell the story of how Americans celebrated 200 years of independence. This month's Artifact of the Month explores the keepsakes created for the Bicentennial, and considers what today's America 250 memorabilia might reveal to future generations.
As America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, we're looking back at the Bicentennial of 1976 through a unique collection of commemorative product packaging. These everyday items offer a glimpse into a nationwide celebration that captured the spirit of an era.
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.
