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.

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.

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. 

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.

Saturday, August 20, 2022 - Walk for Wildlife 2022 was a major success, thanks to the nearly 300 participants who walked in support of the animals at Turtle Bay!

The Plant(s) of the Month for June are Verbena rigida and Verbena rigida ‘Polaris’. Both are reliable long-blooming plants in the Gardens and in the Nursery and are both blooming profusely this year with the abundant spring rains we’ve been experiencing!

This past weekend, we kicked off the summer season with our annual Brews by the Bridge event! With more beer vendors than ever before, food trucks, outdoor games, and live music, our community had a fun Friday night by the Sundial Bridge. This year’s festivities expanded throughout the entire Gardens, making the event BIGGER and BETTER than in years past. We want to say a huge thank you to all attendees, vendors, and sponsors for their overwhelming support of Turtle Bay!