Historical Marker · No. 10
Reading Adobe
Cottonwood, Shasta County · California
Erected by State Department of Parks and Recreation; Shasta Historical Society, 1968
The plaque marks a house that stood until 1942. Pierson Reading's adobe of 1847, on the Mexican grant he called Rancho Buena Ventura, served as the new county's seat in 1850 and 1851, survived as the kitchen wing of his later mansion, and was, the bronze says, destroyed by vandals in 1942. Nothing of it remains. Reading had been granted the land in 1844 but did not move onto it at first; the house he built for an overseer was burned by Native people in 1846. Reading is buried nearby.
What the plaque says
Site of Reading Adobe Rancho Buena Ventura Home of Pierson Barton Reading (1816-1868)-California pioneer of 1843-Major in Fremont's California Battalion, Mexican War of 1846, signer of Capitulation of Cahuenga-discoverer of second major gold strike 1848-adobe built here 1847, designated seat of Shasta County government 1850-51, kitchen wing of Reading mansion 1854-1881, destroyed by vandals 1942-best stock farm in California 1862-Major Reading buried nearby. California Registered Historical Landmark No. 10 Plaque placed by the State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the Shasta Historical Society, May 18, 1968.
Where it stands
40.39135, -122.20039 · Directions
More markers nearby
- Fort Reading — 6.1 mi
- Dersch Homestead — 7.0 mi
- Old California-Oregon Road — 8.3 mi
- Clear Creek — 12 mi