Empty, roofless brick walls, black iron shutters and silence are all that remain of once-booming Shasta City, formerly known as the Queen City of the Northern Mines.Founded in 1848 as the mining camp of Reading Springs, the community grew quickly as gold seekers flocked here to prospect the tributaries of the Sacramento River. By 1850 the camp had taken on the appearance of a permanent settlement, and its name was changed to Shasta City accordingly; several months later it was designated the seat of Shasta County. Severe fires consumed most of the town in 1852 and 1853, but the wooden commercial buildings were rapidly replaced by structures of brick and iron. Yet thanks mainly to the Central Pacific Railroad's decision to locate its terminus 5mi east of town, by 1900 Shasta City had been virtually abandoned.Today visitors can wander among the brick walls and other traces of the settlement. The former courthouse has been refurbished as a museum displaying artifacts and photos from the ghost town. Interpretive displays in the visitor center recount the story of Shasta City and the surrounding region.