Shasta College Museum Hosts New Exhibit

Ann Pedersen

Senior Editor

The Shasta College Museum, in conjunction with the Shasta Garden Railroad Society and the Shasta Cascade Rail Preservation Society, are hosting the “Railroad Exhibit.” The exhibit is being housed in the Shasta College Museum and Research Center in building 6500 starting

Sept. 12.

The exhibit coordinator, Rick Marty, said at an interview on Sept. 13, “The primary intent [of the exhibit] is to display the importance of the railroad in Shasta County.” Another main intent of the exhibit he says, is to showcase some of the talented local locomotive enthusiast pieces.

Pieces such as the enormous model train displayed prominently in one of the corners of the exhibit space.

Dotty Smith, the clerk of the Shasta College Museum, first approached Marty with the idea to collaborate on a railroad exhibit at the end of the last spring semester.

Smith says that this isn’t the first time she and Marty have worked on a railroad exhibit for the Shasta College Museum. She said that over three years ago, in May 2003, she and Marty jointly organized another railroad exhibit. They both agree that this time around the exhibit not only has more information, but is much better organized.

Smith, who also happens to be a local history teacher here at Shasta College, has Marty come into her classroom and speak about the local railroads every semester when they get to that unit.

Smith and Marty both agree that they work well together. “We’re having a lot of fun [doing the exhibit],” Smith said on Sept. 13.

The “Railroad Exhibit” in the Shasta College Museum, displays something of interest to just about anyone, says Marty. There are maps of the old railway systems in Shasta County and Northern California, photographs of late 1800s conductors and trains, as well as railroad memorabilia from years past. Plus there are always several gentlemen from either the Shasta Garden Railroad Society (SGRS) or the Shasta Cascade Railroad Preservation Society (SCRPS) around in the exhibit to enthusiastically answer any question you have, or are thinking of having.

If three years ago is any indication, Smith and Marty expect to have more than 600 people attend the exhibit (which is the amount that attended in 2003). This time around, to increase awareness and participation, Smith decided to invite all the history teachers at Shasta College to bring their students to see the exhibit. Both exhibit coordinators anticipate many more people than in 2003 with this added college interest and the steady media coverage of the Exhibit.

The “Railroad Exhibit” will be open to the public from Sept. 12-28 on Tues, Wed., and Thurs. from 10am- 2pm with an open house on Sept. 16 from 10am-4pm. There is no admission to the exhibit and there is ample parking. If you have any questions about this exhibit, upcoming exhibits, or the Shasta College Museum call 225-4754. And if you have any specific question about trains, you can visit SGRS’s web site at www.shastagrs.com.