
About Signs for Sponsorship
Help Us Complete the exciting New Museum Exhibits by becoming a sign sponsor!
An important part of our Pole Barn Project is researching all of our large artifacts and creating informative interpretive signage for our visitors. Recognition of your generous donation will appear at the bottom of the signage with your name (and association, if any).
The following signs can be sponsored for $500.00 each.
Sign 1: Two-seat Village Spring Wagon. The 1885 Tehama County, CA Directory lists the Bidwell Brothers – Edward, Elbert, and Myron – as blacksmiths and wagon makers, operating a blacksmith shop located on Pine Street between Main & Washington in downtown Red Bluff. One can assume that Bidwell may have built this wagon for a customer in Angels Camp. Two-seat Village Spring Wagon (Sold! Thank you, Stange Family/Vino Metatewinery).

Sign 2: This is a 1938 John Deer Model A. To meet the needs of row crop farmers, John Deere relied on the Models "A" (with 28 HP) and "B" (with 17 HP) from the mid-1930s into the 50s. 1938 John Deer Model A Tractor (Sold! Thank you, Renee Minard-Menzes).
Sign 3: The horse-drawn sickle-bar mower has only been in popular use since shortly after the U.S. Civil War (1860’s). The earliest crude production models started to appear around 1845. Sponsor this sign.
Sign 4: Henley portable fence-making machine: Application filed April 12, 1880. (NomodeL) To all whom it may concern: 'Be it known that I, ALBERT HENLEY, of Lawrence, in the county of Douglas and State of Kansas, have invented a Machine for Barbing Fence-Wire, of which the following is a specification. Sponsor this sign.
Sign 5: Fanning mills or grain separators, also known as grain cleaners, would rid the harvested grain of weed seeds and debris through mechanical action and screening. Sponsor this Sign.
Sign 6: Grain Grinders: Milling is a process in which grains such as oats, wheat, rice, and corn are dehulled and ground into smaller pieces or flours to improve palatability, reduce cooking time, and create food products. Each type of grain has a unique processing method that yields a wide range of products. Collection of Grain Grinders (Sold! Thank you, Rob and Diane Jarvi).
Sign 7: Kitchen/General Store Exhibit: The new exhibit will be located in the old Sierra Railway room and showcase the museum’s many kitchen and general store artifacts. This sign is being sponsored by Sierra Hills/Angels Food Market (SOLD!). Thank you!
Living History Sign: These signs are available to sponsor for $800.00 each.
Living History Sign 1: Altaville Foundry Exhibit: In 2022, California Electric Steel of Altaville celebrated their 168th year as the oldest continually operating foundry west of the Mississippi River. The local mining business would sustain the foundry for decades, but new markets would eventually be needed to survive. More than just a survivor, it continues as a rare living link to our Gold Rush heritage. Sponsor this sign.
Living History Sign 2: Blacksmith Exhibit: The blacksmith played a crucial role in sustaining mining activity during the early days of the gold rush. His ability to work and shape metal using a hammer and forge meant he was rarely short of work or money. Picks and shovels to break up the earth: windlasses and iron kibbles used to draw up wash dirt from underground; ‘spiders’ which held candles when working in the dark – all these items could be found in a blacksmith’s shop. Besides manufacturing equipment for gold seekers, the blacksmith also made a handsome profit from mending, repairing, and sharpening these tools. Sponsor this sign.