Town of Shasta Interpretive Association

08/20/2026

One of the few art galleries in the region will be ending a smaller, temporary exhibit September 6, 2026.

Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Thursday through Sunday, Brushstrokes of Resilience: Art of the American Experience highlights seldom‑seen historic paintings that reflect the enduring impact of the United States’ support for the arts, especially through New Deal programs created in response to the Great Depression of 1929.

At the Williamson Lyncoya Smith Gallery in the Shasta State Historic Park Museum, visitors can explore The Boggs Collection, featuring works by celebrated artists Maynard Dixon, Helen Forbes, Otis Oldfield, and Ray Strong. Each contributed to one of the greatest public art initiatives in American history.

Discover how these powerful pieces connect our past to today’s conversations about the role importance of support for the arts and the role of the government to aid in tough financial times.

08/16/2026

The Town of Shasta Interpretive Association (TOSIA) is a non-profit organization founded in 1982 that partners with Shasta State Historic Park at 15312 Highway 299 West in Shasta, CA. It preserves Gold Rush history through volunteer programs, museum gift shop operations, and educational events.

08/16/2026

Catch up on what’s happening in the town of Shasta California and at Shasta State Historic Park —new activities, local history, and ways to get involved.

08/07/2026

HURRY—don’t miss this rare art event in Shasta County at nearby Shasta State Historic Park! With only a handful of museum galleries in the entire region, it’s not often you’ll see historic masterpieces like these on display.

Right now, you can view extraordinary paintings by famed regional artists Maynard Dixon, Helen Forbes, Otis Oldfield, and Ray Strong. Brushstrokes of Resilience: Art of the American Experience brings together powerful works from 1927 to 1940, created by artists involved in New Deal programs during the Great Depression—an era when 12.8 to 15 million Americans were out of work.

This is a limited‑time exhibit, and it’s truly something you won’t want to miss.

08/07/2026

With Shasta State Historic Park – I'm on a streak! I've been a top fan for 25 months in a row. 🎉

07/24/2026

HURRY! Ending August 1, 2026, Shasta State Historic Parks special Summer Junior Ranger Programs designed primarily for children ages 7 to 12 is going strong with children earning a unique wooden badge after 4 weeks of completing the program.

This family-friendly special program combines history, nature, creativity, and hands-on learning to help young visitors discover the stories that made Shasta one of California's most important Gold Rush communities.

The self-guided Junior Ranger Programs cost no additional fee so be sure to arrive sharply at 10 am for an around 90 minute experience and children must be accompanied by an adult.

07/22/2026

Months later in March of 1848 after visiting James Marshall's discovery site at Coloma, Pierson Redding discovered gold near what we today call Clear Creek and Redding Springs sprung up, later to become the city of Shasta. Visit Shasta State Historic Park to learn more.

On July 21, 1847, John Sutter wrote in the daily logbook kept at Sutter’s Fort, “Marshall with Nerio left to the Mountains on the [American] fork, to select the site for the Saw Mill.” The site James Marshall, the head carpenter at Sutter’s Fort, and Nerio, a Miwok Native American guide, found on this week in 1847 was in the valley of Cullumah, the name given by the Yalesumney Nisenan village that inhabited the region. The location is known today as Coloma on the south fork of the American River about 40 miles east of Sutter’s Fort (located today in Midtown Sacramento).

The reason a sawmill was initiated was to help meet the demand for lumber at Sutter’s Fort and to provide lumber to build the planned town called Sutterville, where William Land Park is located in Sacramento today. The Sacramento Valley was expected to have an increase in immigration as California became a United States territory after the U.S. military seized control of California from Mexico during the Mexican-American War.

A month later, on August 27, 1847, John Bidwell wrote a contract between Sutter and Marshall to build the sawmill and construction began soon after. Using a labor force of former soldiers from the Mormon Battalion and Nisenan Native people from local villages, Marshall oversaw the construction of the sawmill which was nearing operational by mid-January 1848.

James Marshall found gold at the sawmill on January 24, 1848 leading to the California Gold Rush, which was one of the largest migrations in human history. The Gold Rush gave justification for further colonization of California and the American West. While the gold brought people from all over the world looking for opportunity and fortune, it also brought further destruction to California Native American way of life.

Copy of a lithographic print depicting Sutter’s Mill in Coloma in 1848 by F. Gleason in 1852, courtesy of the California State Library.

07/19/2026

With Bidwell Mansion Association – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

04/11/2026

Preparing for summer as we suffer through the rain. Shasta State Historic Park is part of the California State Parks system which includes over 280 separate park units, covering 1.6 million acres of land. This system includes varied classifications, such as state beaches, historical parks, natural reserves, and recreational areas, protecting 340 miles of coastline, 970 miles of lake/river frontage, and 5,200 miles of trails. Explore at https://www.calparks.org/parks