Sisson Museum
Current Exhibits - 2008
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Coming this year - The construction of the Sisson Museum
The 25th Anniversary
An exhibit on "Caves and Caver" will be opening at the Museum this year. This display commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Shasta Area Grotto (SAG). SAG was chartered as an internal organization of the National Speleological Society in 1982. Grotto members are spread from Susanville to the coast, and from Chico to southern Oregon. Over the years, people with varied interests have joined the grotto. Caving interests include exploration, survey, and inventory, cave management, protection and restoration, photography, bat studies, archaeology and rescue. SAG cavers have taken part in national caving events and hosted regional meetings. Members have worked with Federal cave owners to manage and protect their caves.
The exhibit contains memorabilia of past national and regional events and items of historical significance to grotto members. Items used by cavers can also be viewed along with photos and equipment related to caving activities. Information on grotto history, cave formation, safety and conservation will be available to take home.
Sport Angling Display
The Sisson Museum took on a new and different undertaking in 2006. Perry Sims, local historian organized, collected and built a new display to feature collectible sport angling equipment. He was contacted by local fisherman, Bill Schinski, who had amassed a large collection of rods, reels, creel and flies and offered them to the Museum. This was a great opportunity for historian Sims to collect other data depicting the number one recreation sport for this area. In addition to designing and building the beautiful display to focus on the generous collection, Perry gathered old photos and other paraphernalia pertinent to the evolution of fishing in Siskiyou County. This display is a beautiful depiction of our area and the wonders it offers.
Mineral Display
This year, Sisson Museum was delighted to receive an offer from local gemologist Peter Chesko to dsplay his vast collection of local minerals he has mined throughout his career. He has begun with a small display of beautiful minerals that he hopes will develop into a larger display and continue evolving and revolving as the years go by. Stop in to see this beautiful display and learn about local minerals and gems.
The Mountaineering Wall
This exhibit was designed in 2003 by historian and Sisson Museum Board member 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.This exhibit was designed in 2004 by historian and Sisson Museum Board member Perry Sims. 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 1880’s 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.
