New Exhibits - 2012

Photo by Kevin Lahey

~ Lenticulars ~
The Spectacular Clouds of Mount Shasta

Exhibit on Display - 2012 to 2015
Bill Miesse, Organizer

Lenticular Cloud Photo Show
April 6 to July 15 in Events Room

This newest exhibit in the museum tells two stories:

The science behind the formation of the clouds
The legends and the lore about the clouds

Beautiful photos, interesting stories, and fun for all!

2011 Exhibits

Mt. Shasta H₂O - Stories Water Can Tell

Mt. Shasta H20 Stories Water Can Tell is a group of exhibits which seeks to explain some of the ways Mt. Shasta water is unique. From its award winning taste to its use as far south as Los Angeles local water is important to millions of Californians.

Our water stories help explain the "age" of spring water and how Mt. Shasta collects and stores water to be released as full sized streams from local springs. Learn about the fish which can only exist in these pure cold local rivers. See the first important public explanation of the damage to and restoration of the Sacramento River after the railroad chemical spill twenty years ago. View a video documenting a virtually empty Shasta Lake during the drought of the 1970's. Bring the kids to perform experiments about water in our children's section. School groups are welcome with advance notice. Call or e-mail for details.

Permanent Exhibits

Native American Basketry

Through the generosity of the Stella and Ernest Wheeler Family Trust, the Fort Jones Museum, and wonderful community support we are able to show and preserve an excellent collection of local Native American basketry. For countless generations before the coming of the Europeans, the local tribes learned, lived, and taught a sustainable lifestyle on their riverine lands. Gathering, storing, preparing, cooking, and serving of many foods was done entirely with tools made from locally gathered materials. Our exhibit shows excellent examples of these tools, plus a substantial collection of articles made for trade after white contact. We offer far more of this genre of these beautiful pieces of art than the visitor will find at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington DC !

The Mountaineering Wall

This exhibit was designed in 2004 by historian and Sisson Museum Director Perry Sims. He has done extensive research on the first horse to climb Mt Shasta and has compiled pictures showing the first man, first woman and several groups to climb the mountain. The display was funded by a grant from JEDI and the Stewardship Fund of Siskiyou County, with matching grants from Black Bear Diner and The Fifth Season, along with major individual contributions from the community.

The centerpiece is the conoidal reflector from the top of the 1875 surveying signal which was a unique landmark on the summit of Mt. Shasta until 1903. The descriptive panels surrounding the display detail the nature of the surveys, the installation of the signal, and several significant events related to the artifact.

The mountaineering displays include details of the creation of the Shasta Alpine Lodge, more commonly known as the Sierra Club Cabin, and climbing and biographical information about the first non-native man and woman to achieve the summit. An historical error, repeated since the 1880s is corrected by naming Catherine Edson Eddy the first white woman to climb to the summit.

Credit is also given to colorful J. M. "Mac" Olberman, the Sage of Shasta, for his remarkable contribution to the rich folk history of the mountain.

Several other notable climbs have been described, including the occasion of the first horse proven to have been taken to the 14,162 foot summit in 1903.

A popular addition to the display is an evolving summary of Feats and Records listing the youngest and oldest persons to climb, as well as speed records and other non-historical information.

Chronological History of the Community

Visitors will find a very complete pictorial timeline beginning with Strawberry Valley, then Berryvale, Sisson, and finally Mt. Shasta City showing how our community has grown from a stage coach station to a very popular spot on the interstate highway.

Lulu Belle, the 1915 Model T fire engine

Get your photo taken sitting in our 1915 Model T fire engine, Lulu Belle!

Model Train Layout

The Museum's HO gauge model train layout can be operated by our visitors, and is a big favorite with our younger guests.