Old Town Eureka
{{short description|Historical commercial center of Eureka, California}}
{{hatnote|This article is about the historical commercial center of the city of Eureka, California.}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Old Town Eureka
(Eureka Old Town Historic District)
| nrhp_type = hd
| nocat = yes
| image = Eureka Old Town and Clock.jpg
| caption = Near 2nd & "F" Streets in Old Town
| location = Eureka, California – Roughly, 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Streets, between B and M Streets
| coordinates = {{coord|40|48|13.34|N|124|9|59.04|W|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = California#USA
| area =
| built = 1850–1874, 1875–1899, 1900–1924, 1925–1949
| architect = Multiple
| architecture = Victorian, Greek Revival, Classical Revival (Neoclassical)
| added = 1991
| refnum = 91001523[http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/ca/Humboldt/state.html National Register of Historic Places]
| website = https://visiteureka.com/activities/old-town-waterfront/
}}
Old Town Eureka (formally the Eureka Old Town Historic District) in Eureka, California, is a historic district listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. It is a {{convert|350|acre|km2|adj=on}} area containing 154 buildings mostly from the Victorian era. The core of the district runs the length of First, Second, and Third Streets, between "C" and "M" Streets, and includes many types of architecture including Eastlake, Queen Ann, Greek Revival, Classical Revival, and Second Empire styles from the 1850s to the 20th century. Though not officially within the district, the Carson Mansion commands the highest elevation at the eastern edge of the district.
History
Image:Eureka CA HistoricalMarkerNo477.jpg is located on a plaque near the intersection of Third and "E" Streets]]
The city began as an 1850 settlement on the edge of Humboldt Bay. Developers and settlers planned for Eureka to aid in the provision of miners working inland to the east. By 1865, the central core of what would become Eureka's "Old Town" was considered "a lively place for a small town, full of business and with plenty of money." The roads beyond Second street (the equivalent of "Main" Street) were covered with stumps from the (recently logged) Redwood forest, and had not opened yet.''{{cite book
| editor-last =Overhold
| editor-first =Ken
| title =Eureka: An Architectural Heritage
| publisher =Eureka Heritage Society
| origyear =1987|year= 1994
| edition = Second
| location =Eureka, California
| pages =270
| url =
| doi =
| isbn = 0-9615004-0-9}}
Old Town Eureka was named as one of the 100 best art towns in America.{{cite book
| last =Villani
| first =John
| title =The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America
| publisher =Avalon Travel Publishing
| date =October 1998
| edition =3rd
| location =Berkeley, California
| pages =[https://archive.org/details/100bestsmallartt00vill_0/page/256 256]
| url =https://archive.org/details/100bestsmallartt00vill_0/page/256
| doi =
| isbn =1-56261-405-3
| url-access =registration
}} Within its bounds is the Clarke Historical Museum.
Examples of historic architecture in Old Town
File:Eureka California Illustrated Map1902.jpg|1902 Illustration of City of Eureka. Old Town is the area of the city, primarily on the waterfront near the island at left.
File:Old Town Eureka, California.jpg|Victorian Commercial buildings on the south side of Second Street.
File:Bank of eureka california.jpg|The Clarke Historical Museum, located in the former Bank of Eureka, designed by Albert Pissis, 1911.
File:Eagle House Inn Eureka.jpg|The Buon Gusto (Eagle House) Hotel from the era when travel to Humboldt Bay was primarily by ship. Docks for ships from San Francisco were nearby this corner, which at one time had four hotels.
File:First and F Street Building Eureka CA.jpg|1893–1904 Commercial Buildings
File:Eureka Books Antiquarian.jpg|Bookstore: A Late 1870s Store Front on Second Street.
File:Carson Mansion at Dusk.jpg|The Carson Mansion as viewed from Humboldt Bay.
File:Eureka Old Town Commercial Building.jpg|Second Empire Independent Order of Odd Fellows Hall building with original commercial space on the first floor.
File:Janssen Building, Eureka CA 2010.jpg|Humboldt Arts Council in mid-1800s (early) commercial brick building.
File:Eureka 316 E Street.jpg|Victorian detailed commercial building now a seafood restaurant
File:The Pink Lady in Eureka.jpg|Milton Carson Home: a wedding gift for the son of the early Lumber Baron, William Carson, who built the Carson Mansion, 1889
File:Carson Mansion Gate 2010.jpg|Victorian fencing and gate in the side yard of the Milton Carson Home
File:Eureka Restoration Hardware.jpg|Original Commercial Building with "false" front on 2nd Street
See also
{{portal|National Register of Historic Places}}
References
{{reflist|22em}}
External links
{{Commons category|Old Town Eureka}}
;General guides
- [http://www.eurekaoldtown.com/ Eureka Old Town]
- [http://www.eurekamainstreet.org/ Old Town and Downtown Eureka]
- [http://www.redwoods.info/ Humboldt County Convention and Visitors Bureau]
- [http://www.oldtowneureka.com/ Old Town Eureka]
- [http://www.humguide.com/ The "Hum Guide:" Extensive area resources and information]
;Arts, music & museums
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120306095646/http://www.redwoods.info/showrecord.asp?id=1838 Arts Alive!]
- [http://www.clarkemuseum.org/ Clarke Historical Museum]
- [http://www.eureka-art-culture.com Eureka Art and Culture Commission]
- HSU First Street Gallery – Fine Arts Exhibitions owned and operated by Humboldt State University
- [http://www.humboldtarts.org/index.htm Humboldt Arts Council and Morris Graves Museum Website]
- [http://www.redwoodart.org Redwood Art Association]
- [http://www.redwoodcurtain.com Redwood Curtain Theatre]
{{Eureka, California|state=autocollapse}}
{{Registered Historic Places}}
Category:California Historical Landmarks
Category:Buildings and structures in Eureka, California
Category:History of Humboldt County, California
Category:Tourist attractions in Eureka, California
Category:Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in California
Category:National Register of Historic Places in Humboldt County, California