Constructed in 1879 for J. Lowenthal, this building was designed by C.J. Wall and built with local brick by Johnson &amp; Wilcos construction company. At the time that the property was built, it was described as both Corinthian and Elizabethan. Among the building's more fanciful elements, a false front parapet was used as a decorative element on the roofline to draw one's eye to the facade.A row of colorfully painted cast iron supporting columns create an open porch area, in front of the recessed shop entrance. The cast iron used in the columns was produced locally by the Eureka Foundry (owned and operated by T.J. Lannigan in the late nineteenth century). The building's columns represent one of the few remaining examples of locally cast iron that was used for architectural purposes in what is now considered Eureka's Old Town Historic District.The interior of the building features ornamental plaster that dates to the era when the property was built. Currently the home of Eureka Books, the interior now features thousands of new and used books for sale, in addition to rare finds. The historic bookstore, which moved into the J. Lowenthal building in 1987, is known as one of the few remaining professional antiquarian booksellers in the region. Along with books, the shop also sells prints and posters by local photographers and artists.

The J. Lowenthal Building is currently home to Eureka Books, established in 1987

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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. 

J. Lowenthal Building (Eureka Books)

This short walking tour of Eureka's Old Town includes numerous historic buildings dating back to the Victorian era. 

Built in 1892 by the lumber magnate William Carson, the Carson Block Building was the first major commercial property in Eureka. As one of the first properties to provide professional office and retail space for rental to commercial tenants, the Carson Block Building greatly contributed to the economic vitality of Eureka's Old Town. In the 1920s a layer of white stucco was added to the exterior, obscuring the original appearance of the red brick facade. During the early twentieth century, the second and third floors of this unique property also contained the Ingomar Theater. This 837 seat theater was considered one of the most opulent theaters to be found anywhere on the West Coast. Later, the theater was removed and converted into storage space. In 1986, the property was purchased by the Northern Californian Indian Development Council (NCIDC), as part of its broad goal to assist in the preservation of historic and archaeological sites in Eureka. In 2016, the building underwent major upgrades and a restoration of its original appearance circa 1910. To achieve this, plaster stucco and glass block were removed so that the property's original historical appearance would again be revealed. The west turret was also restored after having been removed in the 1950s in an attempt to modernize the building. The terra cotta exterior and pebbling above the third floor windows were restored on the facade, along with period-appropriate replacement windows and a new roof that was in keeping with the original look of the building circa 1910. During this restoration, the property was also seismically upgraded with new steel framing throughout the building. A new mezzanine level was built to replace the old, while offices were renovated and the former theater area, which had previously been converted into storage rooms, was restored and newly converted into an event space once again. In addition, new heating and ventilation systems were installed, along with new electrical upgrades, new communications and data wiring systems, fire protection and sprinkler systems, as well as improvements for handicapped accessibility. The restoration also included a return to the building's original red brick exterior. A layer of white stucco that had been added in the 1920s was removed, revealing the original red brick as well as decorative terra cotta tiling. When the historic Carson Block building had its grand reopening in 2016 following this major restoration, the North Coast Journal newspaper dubbed it "the grand ruby in Eureka's Old Town crown."

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.

Carson Block Building

The Ritz Building stands out among the other buildings in Eureka's Old Town Historic District for its Art Moderne or Streamline Moderne style. This style was similar to and contemporaneous with the Art Deco design style. These styles were popular especially from 1925 to 1940, although they were also still used over the decades that followed, as was the case with the Ritz Building's redesign in 1947. Unlike Art Deco, which often integrated stylized floral or fountain motifs on buildings that tended to be sharp, angular, and linear, the Art Moderne or Streamline Moderne style preferred a sleek look with curves and rounded edges. Both styles were derived from the International Exposition (Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes) hosted in Paris, France, in 1925. The goal of each style was to break free of past influences and to embrace the future, including the age of aerodynamics and speed. To achieve this effect, Streamline Moderne was known for its use of curved glass, rounded corners, ribbon or band windows, a flat roofline, a curved canopy, and smooth wall finishes. These elements can each be observed in the Ritz Building. In the case of the Ritz Building, this also meant moving on from the earlier era when Woolworth's first came to Eureka in 1913. Woolworth's was a popular American chain of variety stores, or general stores, which also included a soda counter and cafe. Originally founded in 1879 in the eastern U.S., the popular chain made its way to California, setting up storefronts in major American towns and cities along the way. Images of the grand opening of the Woolworth Store in Eureka in 1913 show a building with a canvas awning, an element that would have been greatly out of character with the later redesign of the property in 1946-7 in the Streamline Moderne style. However, as it turns out, Woolworth stores in California are frequently remembered in the popular imagination as being synonymous with Art Moderne and Art Deco style storefronts. Following the major redesign of the property in 1946-7 by the architect Franklin T. Georgeson, the Ritz Building borrows its name from the "Ritz and Star Cigar Shop" owned by A.J. Batini and Dolindo Massei, as well as the Ritz nightclub that once operated on this property. In 1978, a restoration of the building was undertaken by Daniel and Jayne Olliver, and in the years that followed, the Ritz Building was converted into an apartment complex called the Ritz Apartments. Currently, the street-level storefront houses a bar featuring Art Moderne interior decor and styling. The property is a Eureka Historic Landmark, and it is located within Eureka Old Town Historic District. In 2010, a historical plaque was placed at the site by the Eureka Heritage Society, in conjunction with Eureka Main Street.

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.

Ritz Building

Cecile Clark (1885-1979)&nbsp;was a history teacher for many years at Eureka High School. During that time, she collected Native American baskets and&nbsp;displayed them&nbsp;at the school. Eventually, the school ran out of space for her growing collection so Cecile decided to sell her family's sheep farm and used the money to buy the Bank of Eureka&nbsp;Building (the bank merged with another in 1957 and moved out). The original name for the museum was the Clark Memorial Museum but it changed to its current one in 2001.

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. 

Clarke Historical Museum

In 1886, the Finnish immigrants Henry and Elvira Tornroth built the Eagle House Hotel not far from the docks along Eureka's bustling waterfront area. At the time, Eureka was a hub for the lumber, mining, and shipping trades. The growing city's location near Humbolt Bay made it well situated for commerce. Given all of the industrial and commercial activity that took place in Eureka during the late nineteenth century, the waterfront area was able to support four large hotels, one of which was the Eagle House. The unique property features an elegant corner bay window on three stories. The bay windows contain curved glass, an unusual stylistic element. The curved bay windows are on part of the property that was added later. As such, they contrast with the relatively simple rectilineal bay windows that appear elsewhere on the building. The property also features extensive decorative molding on the exterior, including a whimsical row of "buttons" or medallions between the second and third stories. In the twentieth century, a fourth story was also added onto the roof which, although not in keeping with the original Victorian design, added another stylistic element. In 1907, the property was leased to Joseph Massei and Domenico Caturegli, who later became the owners of the hotel in 1921. Massei and Caturegli gave the Eagle House Hotel an Italian flair, renaming it the Buon Gusto Hotel and Restaurant. ("Buon Gusto" means "good food" in Italian). The Buon Gusto became a favorite gathering place and watering hole among the locals. The Massei family continued to own the property for the next fifty years. Thereafter, it sat vacant for a period of time, until a revitalization of Eureka's Old Town historic waterfront began during the 1980s. In 1984, the property's name was restored to the Eagle House Hotel, although the Buon Gusto remained the name of the street-level restaurant. The guest rooms were remodeled, and antiques were brought in to restore a Victorian style to the interior. During this era, the Buon Gusto restaurant became a nightclub, offering theater style entertainment. In 1989, the property was sold to the Cho family, originally from South Korea. They added some Asian details, such as a red bathtub with a bird faucet in one of the rooms, and they mainly sought to further restore to the hotel to its original look and feel. Under their ownership, the theater stage and ballroom floor were restored by Blue Ox Millworks, a local company. Meanwhile, a historic preservation specialist was commissioned to select specifically Victorian paint colors and wallpaper patterns. Since 2005, the restaurant has been occupied by Gallagher's Irish Pub &amp; Restaurant. In 2017, the entire property was purchased jointly by the Metz family and the Rex family. Together, they further updated the antique furnishings and the decor to enhance the Victorian ambience while modernizing some of the amenities. Currently, the historic Eagle House name refers to the theater and ballroom, while the hotel portion of the property has been renamed the "Inn at 2nd and C."

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. 

Eagle House Hotel (The Inn at 2nd & C)

Constructed in 1879 for J. Lowenthal, this building was designed by C.J. Wall and built with local brick by Johnson &amp; Wilcos construction company. At the time that the property was built, it was described as both Corinthian and Elizabethan. Among the building's more fanciful elements, a false front parapet was used as a decorative element on the roofline to draw one's eye to the facade. A row of colorfully painted cast iron supporting columns create an open porch area, in front of the recessed shop entrance. The cast iron used in the columns was produced locally by the Eureka Foundry (owned and operated by T.J. Lannigan in the late nineteenth century). The building's columns represent one of the few remaining examples of locally cast iron that was used for architectural purposes in what is now considered Eureka's Old Town Historic District. The interior of the building features ornamental plaster that dates to the era when the property was built. Currently the home of Eureka Books, the interior now features thousands of new and used books for sale, in addition to rare finds. The historic bookstore, which moved into the J. Lowenthal building in 1987, is known as one of the few remaining professional antiquarian booksellers in the region. Along with books, the shop also sells prints and posters by local photographers and artists.

In 1904, D.C. McDonald built this two-story masonry structure to house his successful building supply company in Eureka. This company provided the tools and building materials for many other local and regional businesses in the early twentieth century. The property itself is considered an excellent example of Classical Revival architecture, which was popular during this era. The Classical Revival style is showcased in features such as the fluted pilasters, which support the arched entryway, as well as the decorative scrollwork on the second story molding. This building was constructed in brick and molded concrete, which was designed to imitate stone, particularly the "rusticated, rough-textured concrete blocks" that were molded into piers on the lower story. This was the first concrete building in Eureka. The second story features frosted arched transom windows, each showcasing a keystone above their respective arches. Between the first and second stories, a wide brick band prominently displays the name of the D.C. McDonald Company in gold lettering. The property was owned and occupied by the D.C. McDonald Company from 1904 until the 1960s, at which time a motorcycle dealership took over the building. Despite several other commercial uses over the years, the brick and concrete facade of this building remains unaltered. As such, it continues to reflect the appearance of the property at the time when the D.C. McDonald company served the community of Eureka by selling building supplies. Today, this property continues to evoke the period of industrial growth and commercial activity in early twentieth-century Eureka. The D.C. McDonald Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Since 1991, it has also contributed to the National Register of Historic Places as a part of the Eureka Old Town Historic District. In 1994, a historical plaque was placed at the site, at which time the current owner of property received a Preservation Award from the Eureka Heritage Society. The plaque also lists the property as a Eureka Historic Landmark. The historical plaque is mounted on the pilaster to the immediate left of the entryway.

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. 

D.C. McDonald Building

The International Order of Odd Fellows building in Eureka was constructed in 1883 in the Second Empire style, also called French Empire. This architectural style was inspired by the buildings which were commissioned by Napoleon III in Paris, France, between 1852 and 1870. The property features a mansard roof, which is the key feature of the Second Empire style. This large, two-story building was constructed in brick, with iron columns around the entrance. The International Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) originally began as a fraternal organization in seventeenth-century Europe to help others in need. At that time, altruistic community assistance was considered an odd or unusual concept, hence the name “odd fellows.” Historically, the mission of the IOOF was to "visit the sick, relieve the distressed, educate the orphan, and bury the dead." The IOOF then spread to America during the early nineteenth century. The first North American branch of the International Order of Odd Fellows was established in 1819 in Baltimore, Maryland. The concept soon traveled across the country, eventually reaching the West Coast in 1859. During that year, the first Odd Fellows lodge on the West Coast was built in Arcata in Humboldt County, California. For several decades during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, the IOOF also included a female auxiliary group called the Rebekahs. It was the first such female group in the U.S. At one time, the city of Eureka hosted multiple lodges of the International Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF). However, the largest was the property built on F Street in 1883. The city also served as a meeting place for various IOOF chapters to come together. On the 91st anniversary of the founding of the International Order of Odd Fellows in the U.S., members of eleven different chapters gathered together in Eureka to celebrate the history of the organization. The members posed together for a commemorative photograph on the steps of the Eureka Courthouse, while dressed in regalia and waving flags and banners. Hundreds of members, along with their families and friends, were present on that day in Eureka. Afterwards, a celebratory parade with a marching band stretched for blocks throughout the city.

Built in 1883, this property was designed by James Simpson as a meeting hall for the International Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) in Eureka. The International Order of Odd Fellows was originally founded as a fraternal organization during the 1600s in Europe. The concept reached America in the 1800s, and then spread across the country. Today, the IOOF admits both men and women for membership. The Odd Fellows Hall in Eureka was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It also contributes to Eureka's Old Town Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.


Odd Fellows Lodge (IOOF Hall)

In 1893, August Palmtag commissioned Knowles Evans to construct a two story Queen Anne style property for commercial use. To construct the property, an older building was torn down and another was relocated. These buildings, which housed Pratt's Furniture and Levi Clothing, were simple structures with little architectural detailing, built by the earliest settlers in Eureka. However, by the late nineteenth century, this booming commercial district had begun to reflect the changing tastes and acquired wealth of Eureka's business community. The August Palmtag building is a fine example of commercial architecture built in the Queen Anne style in Eureka's Old Town. The second story of the building features a large, flat-roofed, rounded and cantilevered bay window. Originally, it was capped with a copper roof, thus serving as the primary focal point when viewed by pedestrians from the street. From the interior, the gently bowed edges of this large bay offer an excellent two-way view of both F Street and 2nd Streets. The corner bay is complemented by additional bays with pedimented gables on each facade of the building. Although the ground floor of the property was remodeled in 1915 and 1922, the second floor remains as it appeared when it was originally built, with details such as patterned shingles in the Queen Anne style. The builder, Knowles Evans, had previously worked as a secretary for the Lincoln Mill Company before venturing out on his own. After completing the August Palmtag Building in 1893, Evans enjoyed a successful career in Eureka that also included building the city's Carnegie Library, as well as Eureka's Renaissance-style Georgeson Block building in 1903. The first business to occupy the primary storefront in the August Palmtag building was the Pacific Pharmacy, a mainstay in Eureka's Old Town during the late Victorian era. In addition, August Palmtag ran a wholesale liquor business from this property. In the rear of the building, a cigar &amp; confectionary shop, as well as a produce shop, sold goods to customers along Opera Alley. On the second floor, the office of Dr. Theodore Felt and his son, Dr. Rae Felt, occupied the space with the large cantilevered bay window. Dr. Theodore Felt, originally from Kentucky, was one of the first doctors to arrive in Eureka during its early gold mining days when medical care and supplies weren't readily available in remote locations. A generation later, his son, Dr. Rae Felt, graduated from the University of California Medical School and served as a primary physician for the U.S. Marine Hospital in San Francisco. The August Palmtag Building has housed many different businesses over the years and it continues to do so. A historical plaque placed at the site by the Eureka Heritage Society and Eureka Main Street lists several other important local businesses that have occupied the August Palmtag Building throughout the history of the property. These businesses have contributed to the vitality of Eureka's Old Town commercial area. The August Palmtag Building is currently a contributing property to Eureka's Old Town Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

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. 

August Palmtag Building

In 1872, lumber pioneer John Vance commissioned to the architect B. Mackay to design a new hotel near the bustling Eureka waterfront. This area was filled with shops, warehouses, and saloons. Mackay's original design featured two stories, plus a sloping mansard roof with an "attic style" third floor. The roof was topped by a cupola, intended for viewing ships that were arriving or departing from the Humbolt Bay. The Vance Hotel as it was originally built featured over 65 guest rooms, plus a dining room that could serve up to 120 people. It was considered to be the grandest hotel in the region, "not excelled by any hotel outside San Francisco for beauty, size, cost and architecture." In 1885, the Vance Hotel became the first building in Eureka to have electricity and one of the first wood-frame commercial buildings in the county to offer electric light. Its electricity was powered by the generator at Vance's saw mill, then located on G street. The Vance Hotel also held the distinction of being the second-largest building in California to be constructed entirely of wood. This is perhaps fitting, given that the building's owner made his fortune in lumber. In 1902, the mansard roof was removed during a remodel of the property by a new owner, M. Delon. In its place, two additional full stories were added to create a twice as many hotel rooms. Thus, the upper two stories showcase a relatively more restrained Edwardian or Classical Revival style architecture, as opposed to the earlier and more ornate Victorian style that characterizes the two lower stories. The lower two stories still retain their original 1872 facade. In 1912, a moat bridge was added to connect the second story of the Vance Hotel with a neighboring warehouse on the opposite side of Snug Alley, the small delivery street that ran between the two buildings. This moat bridge enabled hotel guests to conveniently reach the warehouse, where they were able to view sample displays of products being offered for sale by traveling merchants. For many years, the hotel served as the commercial and social center of the town. During the 1950s, the hotel was purchased during a private auction by the family of the actor, Lloyd Bridges. It was one of several historic buildings in Eureka acquired by the Bridges family. In 1998, the Vance Hotel was again acquired by new owners, who restored the property as a Victorian retail and office space complex. Today, the Vance Hotel building houses various businesses, shops, and restaurants, such as the Vance Cafe in a street-level storefront. Tenants also include Eureka Main Street, a public-private partnership that represents the interests of the merchants, professionals, community organizations, and the City of Eureka. The Vance Hotel anchors Eureka's Old Town Historic District, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

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.

Vance Hotel Building

In the late nineteenth century, Frederick Axe served as the long-time postmaster of Eureka. After enduring cramped quarters while overseeing a tiny post office on Second Street, he decided to have a new building constructed at his own expense. This post office served Eureka from 1882 to 1885 and again from 1890 to 1894. Fred Axe held the position of postmaster in Eureka for a total of 17 years. On the second floor of the building, a meeting hall was made available for use by social clubs as well as for civic gatherings and events. It was often used for the meetings of a Civil War veterans organization, called the "Grand Army of the Republic." Later, the property was converted into a boarding house, until it was purchased by the unusual entrepreneur, Glyndon "Sign" Smith. "Sign" Smith was a sign-maker, professional magician, and philanthropist who opened a shop in this building. The shop offered customers a cornucopia of quality products, as well as artistic signs handmade to order. Sign Smith's shop remained in operation for forty years. During this time, the property became known locally as the Sign Smith Building. It is still referred to by this name today. Sign Smith was the longest serving member of the Rotary Club of Eureka. He served for sixty-nine years and created a generous endowment fund. A committee named in his honor to administer this endowment has helped to fund numerous charitable and civic projects in Eureka over the years. After the property changed hands in 2000, a renovation was undertaken. However, a fire caused the rear of the building to become damaged. After the renovation was completed in 2002, this space has housed various commercial tenants. In 2006, a historical plaque was placed on the property by the Native Sons of the Golden West. The marker appears near the front entrance. The original date of construction (1882) also appears on the facade of the building.

This building was constructed in 1882 to serve as Eureka's U.S. Post Office. Frederick Axe, who was the postmaster at this location, had the building constructed at his own expense. It replaced an older post office which was in a smaller storefront on Second Street. The upstairs floor served as a meeting hall for civic clubs and lodge meetings. The property was later purchased by a sign-maker and nationally-renowned magician, "Sign" Smith. Thereafter, it became known as the Sign Smith Building.

Old Town Eureka California Walking Tour

J. Lowenthal Building (Eureka Books)

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Backstory and Context

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