City of Eureka
With its central location and proximity to numerous attractions, Eureka is the ideal hub from which to branch out on your Redwood Coast adventures.The town was born and raised in the timber industry, with some fishing on the side, and earned a well-deserved reputation for being a bit wild. Eureka’s waterfront could give the Barbary Coast a run for its money, so much so that writer Jack London came here in search of authentic tough guys on which to base his characters. People still talk about what happened to London when in 1912 he got on the wrong side of a local lumberman in the Oberon Saloon.
Things are quiet nowadays, but Eureka retains many reminders of its bustling past. Magnificent houses built of enduring redwood line the orderly streets. One of them, the Carson Mansion at 2nd & M Streets, has been called the most photographed Victorian in America, and is truly a wooden fairytale castle. Across the street is another well-known Victorian, the Pink Lady. To find out how these architectural treasures were built and restored, visit the remarkable Blue Ox Millworks at the foot of X Street.
The Old Town and Downtown district is one of Eureka’s greatest assets. These blocks of vintage commercial buildings have been lovingly restored, and now contain bookstores, restaurants, coffee houses, galleries, museums and a variety of unusual boutiques. Eureka’s Old Town has retained its Victorian character and is truly a delightful place to shop, stroll and dine. Many of Eureka’s frequent fairs and festivals take place on the streets of Old Town. Take a historic self-guided tour of Old Town.
The Waterfront along Humboldt Bay is a great
place to stroll from the Adorni Center at the foot of L street to view the bay. Still a working port, Eureka’s colorful fishing boats and pleasure craft can be seen coming and going from the Woodley Island Marina and the Small Boat Basin. Woodley Island is worth a visit to see the relocated Table Bluff Lighthouse and “The Fisherman,” a striking memorial statue. A restaurant at the marina is the perfect place to sit and watch the bay. You can reach Woodley Island by way of the Samoa Bridge. Another great view of Eureka is from the Humboldt Bay Harbor Cruise on board the Madaket, an original 1910 passenger ferry.
Tucked away on the south side of town, Eureka owns another gem in its Sequoia Park & Zoo. This 77-acre tract of old-growth redwoods contains nature trails, a duck pond, two playgrounds and charming small zoo which is perfect for spending an hour or two with the children. Even if you’re just passing through Eureka, the zoo is a great place to stop and unwind .
Fort Humboldt State Historic Park, is another city treasure that is often overlooked. There are reconstructed army buildings from the mid-1800s, one of them containing an excellent museum, and an expansive outdoor museum of early logging equipment.
Renown as America’s Best Small Arts Town, Eureka proudly boasts of the Morris Graves Museum of Art, the anchor of Eureka’s growing Cultural Arts District. The museum is housed in the beautifully-restored Carnegie Library building.
Other points of interest in Eureka include the new Humboldt County Library (right next to the Carson Mansion), which offers art exhibits and magnificent bay views as well as superlative research and media collections, and the Eureka Municipal Golf Course (707/443-4808), an 18-hole, par 70 course nestled in the redwoods.
With its central location and proximity to numerous attractions, Eureka is the ideal hub from which to branch out on your Redwood Coast adventures. A broad range of accommodations from classic hotels to quaint B&Bs and familiar national chains are available, there are numerous great places to eat, plus ample shopping for everything from picnic supplies to that special gift. But before you head off into the redwoods (and after you come back), take some time to look around town. You’re sure to be surprised and delighted by Eureka’s many treasures.
Here are more suggestions of things to do while you are in town:
Article in California Weekend Getaways by Carry Ordway
Highlights Eureka as an outpost of Victorian architecture and magnificent scenery, rating it well worth including in any visit to the state's northern coastline.
Walking Murals Tour of Eureka
Directions: Eureka is directly on U.S.Highway 101, 300 miles or 5-6 hours north of San Francisco, and 100 miles south of the Oregon border.