Eureka - A Victorian Seaport
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magine an era of gracious living, grand mansions, arts and fine dining. In the city of Eureka that era is now. Founded in 1850 as a shipping center for the Trinity gold mines, Eureka flourished through fishing, farming and especially logging. While the waterfront district built her reputation as a lusty, brawling timber town, her quiet neighborhoods grew more elegant as prosperous Eurekans built substantial homes from enduring redwood. Today the Victorian Seaport is an open air museum of architecture, dedicated to preserving one of the finest and largest collections of Victorian homes in the world.
The most photographed Victorian Mansion in California, Eureka’s Carson Mansion was built 1884 by lumber magnate, William Carson.
Old Town Gary Todoroff
Nowhere is Eureka’s heritage more evident than Old Town (below), a meticulously restored district of shops, restaurants, galleries and museums. Many special events, including the Arts Alive! art walk on the first Saturday of each month, take place in Old Town, which boasts a nationally recognized arts district. The Eureka Boardwalk,
Fisherman’s Plaza and Hikshari Trail provide waterfront views of Humboldt Bay, which teems with sea birds, seals, sea lions and fishing boats. Other popular attractions include the Samoa Cookhouse, serving lumberjack meals since 1890, and Sequoia Park & Zoo, a redwood forest with hiking trails, playgrounds and zoo with an otter water park, red pandas, monkeys, petting barn and cafe. Nearby Redwood Acres hosts fun events, shops and a native plant garden. The Madaket, the nation’s oldest passenger ferry boat, has offered bay cruises for more than a century. Below deck is the state’s smallest licensed bar. For history buffs, Old Town Carriage Co. offers horse-powered heritage tours and romantic rides. Pride Enterprises leads architectural tours in the Victorian business district. And Haunted History Ghost Tours in Old Town follows in the ethereal footsteps of many notorious Eurekans. For more ideas, stop in the Eureka Visitor Center (see map).
8 | California’s Redwood Coast
www.VisitRedwoods.com