Serving as the seat of Tehama County, Red Bluff lies on the banks of the Sacramento River and was an important landing point for 19th-century miners heading out to the Trinity County Gold Fields. It was originally named Leodocia before becoming Covertsburg in 1853, only to be renamed Red Bluff a year later.
Things to do in Red Bluff
Occupying a two-storey Victorian residence in the heart of Red Bluff is the Kelly Griggs House Museum, which was built in the 1880s by Sidney Allen Griggs and later purchased by the Kelly family. Today, it is decorated with authentic antique furnishings and Native American artefacts, as well as historic photographs of Tehama County. Paintings spanning more than a century are displayed in the Emmet Pendleton Stairway Gallery.
Walk north from the Kelly Griggs House Museum to admire the large rose window of Sacred Heart Catholic Church or attend a Sunday service at the red-brick St Peter's Episcopal Church. One of Red Bluff’s most important historical landmarks is the Cone & Kimball Tower, which features an 1866-cast bell that once dominated the clock tower of a local commercial building.
For insight into pioneer life, head to the William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park on the banks of the Sacramento River. It centres around an adobe residence built in 1852 where period furnishings are now displayed. Wander between the replica schoolhouse, the blacksmith’s shop and the woodworking building or coincide your visit with one of the regular demonstrations of pioneer crafts.
Getting around Red Bluff
Red Bluff is around 35 minutes’ drive from Redding and 30 minutes from Redding Municipal Airport, which has flights to destinations across the United States. Regular buses connect to Red Bluff and the city centre is small enough to explore on foot.