Featured
Another Musuem mystery. Was Turtle Bay’s copy of Little Mendocino painted by Grace Hudson herself? Or is it one of many dozens of copies made by other artists? “The Game is Afoot”, as another famous Holmes would say.
This miniature pendant replica represents the type and styling of gold objects that characterize the Tolima culture of central Colombia. A reproduction that accurately depicts a creation of inspiration from supernatural visions and nature. Often worn as a pendant, this piece captured an embellishing portrayal of a shaman being in an animal spirit form.
Did a local lawman really tangle with Black Bart? Explore the history of M. F. Eldridge, Black Bart, and Samuel Colt and delve into the fascinating history of Gold Rush stamped holsters in the September Artifact of the Month by volunteer Bob Harris.
In 1984, a traditional Quinua ceramic figurine was purchased from a Valerie’s Choice catalog by the
Redding Museum of Art and History, one of the predecessors of Turtle Bay Exploration Park.
July’s Artifact of the Month is a souvenir program from the Fifth Annual Shasta County Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo in 1953. This sublime relic can teach us so much about what life was like back then.
Malaria? In Redding? You bet! Step back a hundred years to the “good old days” and imagine a warm June day after a nice, wet spring. It’s a recipe for mosquitoes! Malaria was a common, and deadly, ailment – along with a host of other preventable and treatable diseases that we seldom worry about today.
Design, color, texture, and scale are the elements of freshly gathered bouquets in modern compositions across Jessica’s body of work. Her preferred method of painting is expressing a sense of urgency with bold strokes while painting to music.
Just as no subject was unremarkable, no spot was inaccessible. Colby maneuvered around the Dam carrying a 40-pound 8” x 10” format Kodak camera, a wooden tripod, film holders, and the rest of his gear. He also used a 4” x 5” format camera for some shots. This combination of a large format camera and Howard’s skill produced crystal-clear, high-resolution photos with incredible details.
With all the media coverage of the Royal Family recently and over the past couple of years, it seemed appropriate to share this trinket dish from Turtle Bay’s Permanent Collection. It was issued in 1953 to commemorate a momentous occasion, Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation Ceremony. As she had no brother, she ascended to the throne on February 6, 1952, following her father's death due to prolonged illness. She was only 25 years old at the time.
Turtle Bay has a collection of artifacts from around the world that tell rich stories, and every month, the exhibits department gets the chance to tell one of those stories. This month, we are sharing a rifle over 150 years old and began a company that would go on to produce guns globally.
Insects represent some of the planet's most bizarre – yet familiar – and enchanting life forms. Some can be as intricately delicate as a butterfly, while others can be as tough and gnarly as some beetles.
The community eagerly anticipated the Turtle Bay Auction, and this year's event did not disappoint. The theme was "Off to The Races," and guests arrived dressed in their finest Kentucky Derby-inspired ensembles. They were greeted by a stunning display of decorations that transported them to Churchill Downs.
Turtle Bay Exploration Park in Redding, CA, partners with Coleman Fish Hatchery every year to raise and release chinook salmon to the Sacramento River as a part of the Head Start Program. This is one of the many ways Turtle Bay takes active part in conservation efforts for local wildlife.
The hand-painted pitcher chosen for this Artifact of the Month is “Pearl Watson, 1913” on the bottom. Pearl is
the first name of the purported grandmother, which piqued my interest, so I
looked her up. A few hours on the internet revealed the more complicated
story behind this collection.
Jess draws inspiration from her passion for diverse cultures, traveling, and commitment to social
justice.
This ancient deity vessel has intrigued me for a long time. I first came across it in 2016 while curating Adventures in pre-Columbian Archaeology for the Glass Case in the Museum. At the time, museum records stated it was from about c.800-1200 CE Peru.
Join us at Turtle Bay to see beautiful skis from 1945, a National Silvo 1937 Metal Electric Mandolin, and much more in this recreational history exhibit.
This 1960s radiation kit, commonly found in fallout shelters, was an essential survival tool during the Cold War Era. Fallout shelters gained mainstream popularity during the 1950s due to the development and threatening presence of nuclear weaponry.
Unlike most of our exhibitions, where changes are made only after installation if a mistake is found, this exhibition is a living document that has had several updates regarding the status of the glaciers as Mt. Shasta experienced both a hotter-than-normal summer and had early snowfall in September 2023 that affected the short-term condition of these climate indicators.
This year we hosted our first annual Jingle Bell Fun Run! Despite the rain, families, and friends lined up with holiday spirit to run/walk 2 miles around the Turtle Bays Gardens!
While curating the exhibition currently in the Mill Building at Paul Bunyan’s Forest Camp called, Recreation: The Great Outdoors and More!, we came across a historic pair of snowshoes with interesting provenance. We decided to highlight them as Artifact of the Month while Snow: Tiny Crystals, Global Impact was on exhibit in the Museum, but we learned more (and less) than we bargained for.
As the crisp autumn air settled, Turtle Bay Museum welcomed members of our community in for a special Halloween After Hours. This event draws in visitors from far and wide, eager to immerse themselves in an unforgettable experience that combines the best of the Turtle Bay Museum with the mystique of the spooky season!