Modoc County Historical Museum facts for kids

The Modoc County Historical Museum is a cool place in Alturas, California, in the United States. It's a history museum that shows off the past of Modoc County. You can learn about the first people who lived there, the Native Americans. The museum also has a big collection of old firearms, some from way back in the 1400s! Outside the museum, you can see Southern Pacific 2718. This is a real steam locomotive that used to run in the area.

Museum's Story: How It Started

The main collection for the museum began in 1926. A couple named Marc and Myrtle Bellis from Alturas started it. They loved collecting things from Native American history. They also gathered items from early pioneers, like old photos and papers.

Growing the Collection

In 1932, the Bellis couple bought a large gun collection. This collection belonged to Nathan Rogers and had been growing since 1870. Marc and Myrtle kept all these amazing items in their attic. It was like their own private museum!

Opening to the Public

Years later, in 1966, some business people from Alturas bought the collection. They wanted to open a real museum for everyone to enjoy. In 1967, Modoc County bought the collection from them. The items were moved to the Veterans Memorial Building. This building is located in Rachael Dorris Park. Finally, in 1968, the Modoc County Historical Museum opened its doors to the public. The museum even got bigger with an expansion in 1984.

What You Can See: Collections and Exhibits

The Modoc County Historical Museum has one of the largest collections of firearms in California. You can see very old guns, like a blunderbuss from the 15th century.

Guns and Hunting History

Some exhibits show the history of hunting migratory birds in the region. You'll see large 10-gauge shotguns. There's even a huge three-gauge shotgun! Another interesting gun is a Marlin Ballard 40-90 caliber. Its cartridge is about 4 inches long.

Native American History

The museum's collection of Native American objects is even bigger than its gun collection. Some of these items are incredibly old, up to 8,000 years old! The collection helps you learn about the lives and history of three main groups from the area. These are the Pit River Tribe, the Modoc, and the Paiute people. You can also see items from other Indigenous peoples of the Great Basin.

Military and Other Cool Items

The museum also has a small collection of United States military objects. These include items from the United States Cavalry, World War I, and World War II. You can also find a collection of colorful glass jars and bottles. These were used in World War I. They were made from selenium because there was a shortage of glass in Europe. Other interesting things to see include railroad clocks, an Estey Organ, old pipes and lighters, and even an iron lung. There are also woodworking tools, cattle brands, and old Chinese bottles and clothing. You can also see animal skins.