Turtle Bay Exploration Park

SERVING OUR COMMUNITY

Turtle Bay Exploration Park is a proud partner in our community, and pleased to offer educational programs, exhilarating exhibitions and quality entertainment. Learn more about who visits Turtle Bay and how we make a difference.

TURTLE BAY MISSION

Turtle Bay Exploration Park educates visitors of all ages with entertaining and stimulating exhibitions and programs that interpret the complex relationships between people and their environments. Using the unique cultural, historical, and natural resources including those in the Sacramento River Region, Turtle Bay serves as a catalyst for exploring universal human experiences.

EXHIBITIONS

Art, history and science are center spotlight in Turtle Bay's two exhibition galleries. Museum exhibitions include works from the permanent collection as well as a diverse traveling exhibition schedule.

EVENTS

Turtle Bay hosts a variety of events from elegant evenings out to family fun daytime outings.

MUSEUM

Turtle Bay Museum is the heart of the Turtle Bay experience. It contains permanent, interactive exhibits and two large special exhibition galleries. The experiences here - underwater fish viewing, walking through historic recreations, experimenting with scientific equipment, viewing the art - are also springboards for the authentic outdoor experiences on the rest of the campus. The exhibits feature a mix of richly layered interpretative material, multimedia exhibits, science experiments, self-guided exploration, and play features.

MCCONNELL ARBORETUM & BOTANICAL GARDENS

Opened on May 30, 2005, the McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is the newest addition to Turtle Bay Exploration Park. The new Gardens comprise 20 acres of mediterranean climate display gardens, a children's garden, a medicinal garden, and two beautiful and unique water features.

ANIMALS

The animal programs at Turtle Bay inspire, create connections, and foster appreciation for the diversity and magnificence of wildlife through conservation, education and entertainment.

SUNDIAL BRIDGE

The Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay crosses the Sacramento River in the heart of Redding, California. Opened July 4, 2004, the bridge links the north and south campuses of Turtle Bay Exploration Park and serves as a new downtown entrance for Redding's extensive Sacramento River Trail system.

PAUL BUNYAN'S FOREST CAMP

A fun-filled replica of a forest camp with woodsy play equipment and a working model of the Sacramento River, plus timber and ecology exhibits and a trail that takes you "across" Northern California's forests.

MONOLITH

The Monolith is the last tangible remnant of one of Redding's most significant historical chapters: the building of Shasta Dam. The ruins of the old Kutras Aggregate Plant have kindled memories and become the site of many a resident's more recent personal reflections. The Monolith was originally the foundation for the facility that processed the gravel used for the concrete in Shasta Dam. Since its closure in 1945, the structure had deteriorated, yet maintained a certain beauty.

MUSEUM STORE

Browse through a wide selection of local art, educational children's toys, handcrafted jewelry and fascinating books. Take home a keepsake of the Sundial Bridge. The Museum Store has an artful selection of gifts for nature lovers, gardeners or anyone with a curious mind.

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