The Hose Company No. 4 Firehouse was built in 1894. At the time that it was constructed, over two dozen men were active volunteer members of the firehouse. The Hose Company No. 4 Firehouse was one of seven such firehouses in Eureka. This building is the only remaining firehouse from Eureka's early era of fire protection.
The Carson Mansion is a historic home located in Eureka, California. It was built by lumber baron William Carson in 1886 after two years of construction. The mansion was designed by architect Samuel Newsom and Joseph Cather in the American Queen Anne style. It is considered one of the finest examples of this stye in the country. Since 1950 it has been home to a private organization called the Ingomar Club and is not open for tours. However, those interested can view pictures of the mansion and learn about the background of its builder on the club's website (please see the link below).
The Pink Lady is a Queen Anne style home that was built in 1889 for the family of John Milton Carson. Carson was the son of William and Sarah Carson, whose mansion is located just across the street. The Queen Anne design aesthetic that is showcased in the Pink Lady also includes highly ornamental exterior wall surfaces, including scalloped shingles. The Pink Lady is located on the eastern edge of Eureka's Old Town historic district and serves as a vacation rental home.
The Vance Hotel was built in 1872 in the Italianate style under the leadership of John Vance, a Eureka lumber magnate and entrepreneur. The Vance Hotel was the first hotel in the city to have electricity. It also advertised first class service and was regarded as the finest hotel in northern California outside San Francisco at the turn of the twentieth century. Today, the building is home to the organization "Eureka Main Street," as well as various retailers. The hotel is also part of the Eureka Old Town Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
August Palmtag, a Eureka businessman, commissioned this property in 1893. During the late nineteenth century, the commercial area that now comprises Eureka's Old Town was experiencing considerable prosperity and a construction boom. Architecturally, this property is a good example of the Queen Anne style in a commercial building. It contributes to the Eureka Old Town Historic District, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The D.C. McDonald Building was built in 1904. It was owned and occupied by the McDonald Company until the 1960s, at which time a motorcycle dealership took over the property. Its Classical Revival style evokes the period of industrial growth and commercial activity in early twentieth-century Eureka. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Constructed in 1879 by J. Lowenthal, this building previously served as a gallery space and has been home to Eureka Books since 1987. This local bookseller is one of the few remaining purveyors of rare and historic books in the region. In addition to the rare books, the store offers a wide range of new and used books and special events for book lovers. The facade offers one of the most unique architectural designs in Eureka's Old Town Historic District while the interior features ornamental plasterwork that is original to the building.
The Eagle House Hotel was built in 1886 by Finnish immigrants Henry and Elvira Tornroth. The historic Olympia home currently serves as an event venue and gathering space, as well as The Inn at 2nd & C. The exterior and interior of the home feature a variety of design elements from the Victorian Era and the building is part of Eureka's Old Town Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
Established in 1960 by high school teacher Cecile Clarke, the Clarke Historical Museum in Eureka, California explores the history of Humboldt County, featuring exhibits on the Native American tribes of the Northwest, the gold rush period, the lumber industry, and ranching. Its collections include numerous artifacts such as textiles, tools, various household items and weapons. Its photographs and documents illustrate the history of European settlement from the 1850s onward. The Native American collection is extensive, containing women's ceremonial caps, flour and gambling trays, baskets, flint and obsidians points, a Yoruk canoe, and fishing gear. The museum is housed in the former Bank of Eureka building that was built in 1911. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Ritz Building was built by James Simpson in 1885. It was modified in 1913 so that it could house a Woolworth store. In 1946-7, the building was fully redesigned in the Streamline Moderne style by the architect Franklin T. Georgeson. The Ritz Building was designated as a Eureka Historic Landmark in 2010. A historical plaque was placed on the side of the building by Eureka Main Street and the Eureka Heritage Society.
The Carson Block Building was one of Eureka's first commercial properties. This 50,000 square foot property was constructed from redwood, brick, and cast iron, with terra cotta detailing. In 2016, a major restoration was completed, which further revitalized Eureka's Old Town Historic District. The Carson Block Building received a California Preservation Foundation Design award, as well as a Governor's Award.
Built in 1920, the Arkley Center for the Performing Arts—originally called Sweasey Theater—is a historic theater in downtown Eureka. The building is described as "eclectic," as architects James and Merrit Reid designed it combining the Beaux Arts, Sullivanesque, and Mission styles. The building's facade features ornate terra cotta decorations, twin towers, and the marquee. The theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.
The historic Eureka Theater—Humboldt County’s 1939 Streamline Modern movie palace, operated and maintained by the Eureka Concert and Film Center, a 501©3 non-profit organization. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Eureka Theater is host to numerous events throughout the year, and is in the ongoing process of restoration to its original glory. Located in downtown Eureka, California, the Eureka Theater is also available for event and performance rentals, tours, weddings, graduations, small parties and receptions.
Located in the historic Carnegie Free Library building, the Morris Graves Museum of Art showcases art created locally, in the northwest, and from around the world. The museum features changing exhibitions and a permanent collection primarily comprised of works of art by the museum's namesake, Morris Graves (1910-2001). The Humboldt County Arts Council operates the museum, which opened in the old building on January 1, 2000. As for the building itself, it was built in 1904 and is a fine example of Classical Revival architecture. The exterior features a large portico with two-story tall Corinthian columns and a terra cotta Roman arch. Inside, the building features a mosaic floor and solid redwood Ionic columns. The building is also significant for its association with the man for whom it is named, Andrew Carnegie, one of the richest people in the world of the late 19th and early 20th centuries who donated money to help build libraries around the country.
The Eureka Inn is a large historic hotel in Eureka, California built in 1922 and significantly expanded two years later. It was designed by Frederick Whitton in the Tudor Revival style. It was completed around the same time that the Redwood Highway—connecting Eureka with San Francisco—was finished. The city of Eureka anticipated the large numbers of travelers who would drive northwards to see the Redwood forests and therefore saw the hotel as a centerpiece in its plan to boost Eureka's economic development. Several famous guests have stayed at the hotel including Ronald Reagan, Bobby Kennedy, Steven Spielberg, Joe Montana, and Robert Plant. The hotel has been well maintained over the years and has undergone several renovations, the most recent of which completed in 2010.
Situated prominently at the corner of 9th and G Streets, the Simpson-Vance house is one of the best examples of Queen Anne architecture in Eureka. It is also significant for its association with its first owner and builder, James Simpson, and its second owner, John M. Vance, who was a prominent local businessman. The house features many decorative elements including an octagonal tower on the northeast corner, ornate woodwork, and rounded windows. Since 1980, the house has been the headquarters of the Redwood Community Action Agency, a non-profit whose purpose is to provide assistance to low to moderate-income residents.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
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This walking tour of Eureka is a work in progress. begins at the Simpson-Vance House and Eureka Inn and makes its way to the downtown area with stops at the Arkley Center for Performing Arts, Eureka Theater, Clarke Museum, and other landmark buildings and historic homes.
