Locomotive buffs will enjoy these two old steam engines. Railroads were an important part of Oroville’s history since the lumber industry played a dominant role in the local economy and depended heavily on the railroads.
The Shay engine located on the Park Avenue side originally belonged to the Hutchinson Lumber Co., purchased to operate on its private 20-mile logging railroad in the foothills east of here.
Both engines represent an important part of Oroville history.
Hewitt Park Steam Engines
Between Baldwin & Park Ave.,
access on Daryl Porter
Dedicated to the appreciation and preservation of last century’s military history and memorabilia, the owners have been collecting for over 30 years.
This collection includes everything from a Browning M1917 Machine Gun (first introduced in 1917), an Antitank Gun (manufactured by Laudi during WWII), a rocket launcher (“Bazooka” of WWII), an English Civil Defense Air Raid Siren used to help Londoners reach the safety of bomb shelters, a Dutch Army Motorcycle (1955), to a Sidewinder Missile AIM-9E and an M60 Machine Gun developed for use in Viet Nam.
There are a number of military wagons plus an outstanding collection of WWII posters which were used to boost morale, sell war bonds, and fuel nationalism in the 1940’s.
Since you’ll need time to explore the many items on display, you may want to consider staying in the tree-shaded Campground here that is nestled on the banks of the Feather River. Fishing, tubing & kayaking trips originate here.
PaintBall is one of the nation’s fastest growing sports, and here you’ll find a series of fields within a master field for scenario games, as well as for “Speedball” and “Capture the Flag.”
Military Museum, Campground, & PaintBall at Surplus City
4514 Pacific Heights Rd.
(530) 534-9956
Opened in spring of 2006, this museum is the fulfillment of one man’s dream. Bud Bolt started collecting in 1957 as a way to get shop students to be more attentive. His idea was to show the students the difference between the unweildly old tools their grandfathers might have used and the modern ones. The boys did start paying more attention, and it also sparked, in Bud, a fascination for old tools that continues today.
All of the tools on display were manufactured during or prior to WWII with some going back to Roman and Egyptian times in 400 B.C. They include adjustable wrenches that measure from a small pair about four inches long to a giant 12-foot industrial wrench, and a hand-forged set of sockets made by a blacksmith and discovered by Bud in a junk store in Kalispell, Montana.
The museum is open 7 days a week, Mon-Sat 10:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Sun. 11:45 – 3:45 p.m., and you’ll find it fascinating to listen to the stories that make the tools almost come alive!
To hear a narrative on this historic attraction, dial (530) 539-3004 and press 103.
Bolt’s Tool Museum
End of Safford Street between Oak & Pine Streets
(530) 538-2528, (530) 538-2415 Visit Them
