Barbed wire might seem like just a nuisance in your backyard—or a handy tool to keep cattle from wandering—but its impact on America goes far beyond fences. From reshaping the open range of the West to affecting Indigenous lands, livestock management, and even military strategy, barbed wire earned the nickname “The Devil’s Rope.”
Discover how this simple invention changed the landscape, law, and history of the American West—and see why most of Shasta County is still considered open range.
Turtle Bay’s Walk for Wildlife brought families and members together for a morning of fun, learning, and animal encounters. Guests met animal ambassadors like Blossom the skunk and Bristle the porcupine and enjoyed bubbles and breakfast—all while supporting the care of our animals year-round.
At first glance, it’s a vintage sewing machine—but there’s so much more beneath the surface. Produced in 1919, this hand-crank Singer Model 128 is a symbol of the Industrial Revolution’s impact on daily life. It brought sewing into the home, launched mass production, and even played a role in shaping global labor trends.
This month’s featured artifact connects directly to our Discover Steampunk exhibition—bridging invention, imagination, and a bit of drama. Curious how? Read the full blog to learn more!
Step back to 1928 with July’s featured artifact of the month—a Brownie camera from Turtle Bay’s Permanent Collection! Developed by George Eastman, this compact, user-friendly camera made photography accessible to everyday people for the first time. Donated in 1974 (and still working at the time!), it's the perfect companion to our Discover Steampunk exhibition, where history meets imagination.
Read more on the blog and visit the Museum to see it in person!
One might argue that the handbag (purse, satchel, or just plain old bag) is probably one of the oldest hominid inventions. An animal bladder, a skin, a gourd, or even a really big leaf could be adapted as an effective way to carry our ever-increasing number of possessions. Over millennia, a relatively simple and practical way to carry stuff has been elevated to an art form and a status symbol accessory.
The Red Fox are the largest member of the fox family. Their hearing is so good, they can hear a mouse 3 feet under snow. These fox were originally from England, but were brought with them around the world. They are now considered invasive species, which means they’re not supposed to be here and are causing harm to other wildlife.
Turtle Bay Exploration Park will be FREE to Kool April Nites attendees on Saturday, April 27, 2019, thanks to a generous donation from Union Bank.
More than 400 community members gathered this weekend for Turtle Bay Exploration Park’s Jeans, Jewels & Jazz Auction, held March 23, 2019 at Redding Civic Auditorium. The event, themed to the classic film “American Graffiti”, is Turtle Bay’s biggest fundraiser of the year and features live & silent auctions, raffle giveaways and more.
The Mosaic Gallery in the Mosaic Restaurant features quarterly exhibitions of work from Northstate artists organized by Turtle Bay Exploration Park. It operates as a sale gallery to support local artists and arts education at Turtle Bay. Featured Artist: Janet Turner - Painter, Printmaker, Educator, International Art Ambassador, and North State Art Legend
Between wildfires, snow storms, power outages, and heavy rainfall, the North State seen and experienced it all. Despite these challenges, today’s sunshine reminds us how beautiful our region truly is. As the Sacramento River levels rise, we are also reminded how strong and powerful our great natural resources are. Thankfully, the Sundial Bridge and surrounded areas were designed to withstand seasonal changes such as flooding. The Turtle Bay Museum and Forest Camp are safe and accessible to park guests, while the Gardens will remain closed due to tree damage from the snow.
These mystery objects were on fire during February, overwhelmingly winning this month’s slot for Artifact of the Month! Some folks may have guessed that these little, metal boxes were lighters, which is not too far off since they are indeed associated with making fire. However, these diverse artifacts are all various types of match safes.
Skunks are known for their stinky odor, but did you know that they only spray if they think their life is in danger? When skunks are afraid, they stomp their feet, backup, and scrape the ground to warn predators that they mean business. They can spray their pungent odor up to 14 feet in a stream or a mist.
Vultures are the single most important scavengers in the world. Turkey vultures are able to consume so many different types of viruses and bacterias that would normally kill other animals. Things like salmonella, anthrax, and even botulism. Because of this incredible immune system, vultures are really important with keeping us healthy.
