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Historic Old ShastaIf you asked most people about Old Shasta, they wouldn't know a thing what you are talking about. In fact, most people around the area probably couldn't tell you much about Old Shasta, but that is just the reason why we suggest you take a little time on your Northern California family vacation getaway to stop in Old Shasta and check the place out. To find the place, you will need to head west of Redding on HWY 299. You need only drive a few miles before you see the sign for Shasta, population 750. There is not much of a town anymore, except the historic district that lies right on the highway. You will see a bunch of old red brick buildings, and torn or crumbling down walls where old business used to reside.
The town came into being in 1848, when Pierson Reading discovered gold in Clear Creek. As you can imagine, word spread quickly and soon a thriving community had sprung up around the countryside, earning the name of Shasta in 1850. The town suffered 2 fires between 1852-53, that completely destroyed all the businesses in town, so merchants finally got smart and rebuilt with red brick walls and iron shutters. The town thrived for almost 40 years, before being slowly abandoned for nearby Redding that now had the Central Pacific Railroad running through it. If you plan to take your family through the town of Old Shasta, you will want to start first at the Courthouse Museum-open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except major holidays. You can't miss it, to the right side of the HWY as you drive west. To tour the museum, you will have to pay a $2 per person entry fee. Inside the museum, you will see many artifacts of the area (working tools, weapons, etc), as well as a lot of paintings and artwork that have been donated over the years. In the basement, you can see the old jail cells that have been kept in remarkable shape. At this museum, you can get maps and brochures of all the buildings to be seen. Two more great buildings to see are the Litsch General Merchandise store and the Blumb Bakery. Both have been restored to their previous glory and are fully operational and staffed by volunteers during the summer and fall. You should call ahead for operational times as they are not always open. (530)243-8194. Sometimes the bakery will be open for demonstrations and visitors can make and eat their own baked food. Sometimes, the park will have full demonstrations, where volunteers will dress up in 19th century attire and act out various professions in each of the buildings. Kids will be awed by this performance and it is something we recommend you stop by and see if you are in the area. If anything, Old Shasta makes a great place to stop as you are headed to Whiskeytown Lake or on to Weaverville and the coast.
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