Shasta, СA

Tom in the ruins of Shasta town.

Shasta State Historic Park

There is nothing much left now of what was once a prosperous and thriving town, Shasta, California.

The historic district which has been partially preserved as a state park is located six miles west of Redding CA on highway 299--but you can drive through it in less time than it takes to read this sentence.

This nice little park is not a “must-see”—it is not Disneyland-- but if you happen to be in the area, it makes for a very interesting hour or two snoop. And there is very nice, quiet grassy area with some shady picnic tables, running water and clean restrooms.

Gold—that magical mineral “that makes white men crazy” was discovered in nearby Clear Creek in 1848 and by 1849 a boom-town of tents and shacks called “Reading Springs” mushroomed. This instant town became the commercial and cultural center of northern California. Next year the fast growing settlement was renamed Shasta and before two more years had passed two and a half million dollars (in 1850 dollars!) in gold had passed through the town—though not much stayed!

In 1852 most of the new town was destroyed by fire—it was enthusiastically rebuilt and six months later was destroyed by fire again—all 70 businesses on Main Street disappeared in a cloud of smoke. A few of the most successful businesses rebuilt with brick walls and iron doors. In ten years the gold ran out—the new Central Pacific Railroad bypassed the town for another town on a downhill bend of the Sacramento River—Redding—and the little town of Shasta more or less dried up and blew away.

An early resident, Mae Helene Bacon Boggs, who was raised in Shasta by her uncle, led an effort to save some of the historic town for future generations and she donated land, buildings and a fine art collection to a Shasta Historical Society and the Native Sons of the Golden West. The California State Parks took over in the 1930s and the Courthouse Museum opened in 1950.

The Museum and Visitor’s Center is very nicely restored to its 1860 appearance and preserves a good collection of early memorabilia. The Jail in the basement has some spooky surprises for the unwary visitor too!

The unusual collection of 98 paintings by 71 artists donated by Ms Boggs is probably the most important feature of the museum. See it if you have the chance!

The rest of the little town—the restored Masonic Hall, the ruined brick buildings and the two vandalized cemeteries (Catholic and Protestant) give one pause to reflect how quickly things pass!

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