Historical Markers in
Shasta County, California

A Matter of Balance A Matter of Progress A Night to Remember / Three Days Later A Relic from the Old Logging Days A Scenic Boulevard Anderson Historic Fire Station Balls Ferry Battle Rock Bumpass’s Hell Burney Falls California – Oregon Road Camden House Captain Dick and Richard Pugh Cascade Theater CCC Camp (1934-1939) Central Valley Project Charlie’s Place Cinder Cone Volcano and the Fantastic Lava Beds Clear Creek Cold Storage Room Coyle-Foster Barn Dersch Homestead Diestelhorst Auto Camp / Reid’s Ferry E. Franck & Co. Fort Crook Fort Reading. Foundation of Catholic Basilica Fountain Fire Namesake Marker Fountain Fire Vista Point French Gulch French Gulch Hotel French Gulch Lodge Gallows Glenburn Community Church Gold Fever in Clear Creek Heroult Electric Arc Furnace Historic County Jail Historic Crossroads Gateway Historic Igo Inn Hot Rock I.O.O.F. Lodge #75 Inwood School Japanese Attack World War II Memorial Kennedy Memorial Klub Klondike Litsch Store Lockhart Ferry Loomis Legacy Masonic Lodge Military Order of the Purple Heart Memorial Mt. Lassen/The Noble Pass/The Park Highway Native Americans in the Clear Creek Watershed Nobles Emigrant Trail Nobles Trail - Battle Creek Ford Nobles Trail - Bear Creek Nobles Trail - Butte Creek Nobles Trail - Canon House Nobles Trail - Deer Flat Nobles Trail - Devil's Half Acre Nobles Trail - Foot of the Mountain Station Nobles Trail - Hat Creek Rim Nobles Trail - Little Hat Creek Hill Nobles Trail - Lost Camp Station Nobles Trail - Lost Creek Route 1855 & Later Nobles Trail - Manzanita Chute Nobles Trail - Manzanita Creek Nobles Trail - Poison Lake Nobles Trail - Shasta City Nobles Trail - Shingletown Nobles Trail - Snow Capped Mountains Nobles Trail - Table Mountain Nobles Trail – Charley’s Ranch Nobles Trail – Hat Creek Station Nobles Trail – Junction Nobles Trail – Third Nobles Pass Nobles' Emigrant Trail Noble’s Bungalow Noble’s Trail Northern California Veterans Memorials Old Station Old Station Post Office People of the Land Piety Hill Pioneer Baby's Grave Pioneers Who “Held the Ribbons” Pluck and Carry Reading Adobe Reading's Bar Shasta Shasta County Court House Shasta Union High School War Memorial Shingletown Store Sims Bridge: A CCC First Site of Reading Adobe Site of the First School in Fall River Valley Southern Hotel and Stage Station Southside Ruins Stephen Tyng Mather Stone Turnpike Memorial Freeway Stone Turnpike Memorial Freeway Submariners Memorial Survivors of the Gold Rush The Civilian Conservation Corps: A Surviving Legacy The Coyle-Foster Barn in its Heyday The Flume The Glory Hole The Sawmill Toll Bridge Tower House Historic District U.S. Army Special Forces Memorial Veterans Memorial Building Memorial Veterans Memorial Grove Veterans Memorial Hall Water Tank Western Star Lodge No. 2 Western Star Lodge No. 2 “Stage Drivers’ Plaque”
California was the site of the nation's first successful oil well in 1892. The well was drilled in the city of Los Angeles and produced about 25 barrels of oil a day. Today, California remains a major oil-producing state.
California random facts
Shasta County, located in Northern California, has a rich history that dates back thousands of years. The region was originally inhabited by indigenous Native American tribes, including the Wintu, Yana, and Pit River peoples. These tribes lived in harmony with the abundant natural resources that the area offered, such as the rivers, forests, and fertile land.

In the mid-19th century, the California Gold Rush brought a wave of settlers to the area in search of fortune. Shasta County quickly became a major center for gold mining, with towns like Shasta City and Redding springing up to accommodate the influx of people. The region's rivers, such as the Sacramento River, played a vital role in transporting supplies and people during this time.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Shasta County also saw significant industrial development. The mining industry continued to thrive, with copper and zinc being majorly extracted. Additionally, the arrival of the Central Pacific Railroad in the late 1800s brought new opportunities for growth and commerce.

In the modern era, Shasta County has made a name for itself as a beautiful natural destination. The magnificent Mount Shasta, a dormant volcano and one of the tallest peaks in California, attracts outdoor enthusiasts from around the world. Its surrounding forests, lakes, and rivers provide ample opportunities for hiking, fishing, and boating. Today, Shasta County is a vibrant community that cherishes its history while embracing the wonders of its natural surroundings.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Shasta County, California.

  • 1772 - Spanish explorers begin to explore the area, led by Captain Pedro Fages.
  • 1828 - Jedediah Smith, an American trapper, becomes the first known non-Native American to explore the area.
  • 1849 - Gold is discovered in the area, leading to a significant population increase as people rush to find their fortune.
  • 1850 - Shasta County is officially established as one of California's original counties.
  • 1864 - The town of Redding is founded and becomes the county seat of Shasta County.
  • 1873 - The Central Pacific Railroad arrives in Shasta County, providing a significant economic boost to the area.
  • 1920s - The construction of Shasta Dam begins, creating a large reservoir and providing hydroelectric power to the region.
  • 1938 - Shasta Dam is completed, becoming one of the largest concrete dams in the world at the time.
  • 1960s - Interstate 5 is constructed, connecting Shasta County to major cities in California and Oregon.
  • 1992 - The Fountain Fire, one of the largest wildfires in California history, burns over 60,000 acres of land in Shasta County.
  • 2018 - The Carr Fire devastates parts of Shasta County, destroying over 1,000 homes and claiming several lives.
  • 2020 - The coronavirus pandemic affects Shasta County, leading to various health and economic challenges for the community.