Local Resources

Since 1947, the Historical Society has worked to preserve original historical materials related to Northern California history. Membership, which originally stood at 117, now numbers nearly 3,000, making us one of the largest county historical organizations in the country. Members receive the Humboldt Historian, our quarterly magazine, voting privileges, and discounts in our bookstore. Membership is open to everyone.

The Blue Lake Museum is a free public museum devoted to railroading, logging, and living in the Mad River Valley. The Old Arcata & Mad River Railroad depot is full of artifacts from the booming days of Redwood Country. The museum also features the Ruth Everding Libbey collection of Native American basketry, the Korbel and Northern Redwood Company Room, and extensive research resources. The museum is housed in the old Arcata & Mad River Railroad depot built in 1897.

Blue Ox is a fully functioning Victorian job shop which produces custom architectural millwork, as well as interior and exterior details for historic homes and new construction projects around the United States. But it's more than that. Blue Ox is a school, a historic park, and a haven for craftsmen.

The purpose of the Ferndale Museum, as an historical and educational museum, is to foster an appreciation and understanding of the culture and heritage of Ferndale, the lower Eel River Valley and the area as far south as the Mattole River Valley. The objectives are to be achieved through the collection, preservation and display of artifacts that pertain to or were used by the residents of the area. The museum will conduct research and publish material of historic nature for the education and interest of residents and visitors to our area.

Fort Humboldt is situated on a bluff overlooking Humboldt Bay. This remote military post was established in 1853 to assist in conflict resolution between Native Americans and gold-seekers and settlers who had begun flooding into the area after the discovery of gold in the northern mines. Fort Humboldt was formally abandoned in 1870 and rapidly fell into decay.

The Fortuna Depot Museum contains the history of the Eel River Valley. Collections include intriguing memorabilia from railroad, farm and war eras, including large locks, spark plugs, and barbed wire displays. There is an extended doll collection as well as many types of fishing gear and lures. There are Fortuna High School year books from 1906, old newspapers, books, Indian baskets and many old everyday household items. Books, pictures and information on the local area are a researcher's dream.

The Hoopa Museum is a non-profit entity of the Hupa Tribe created to preserve and to share the rich culture and history of the native people of northern California. The museum displays one of the finest collections of Hupa, Yurok, and Karuk artifacts in the world. The collection includes a fine display of local indigenous basketry, ceremonial regalia, redwood dugout canoes, tools, and implements used by the Hupa, Yurok, and Karuk tribes.

Located next to the Samoa Cookhouse this museum is dedicated to preserving the area’s maritime history. There are many collections available for research as well as a museum.

The End of the Trail Museum is attached to the north end of the Trees of Mystery gift shop and is one of the largest privately owned museums specializing in Native American artifacts . The museum is organized into six rooms of specific interest. The entrance and gallery is devoted to a collection of baby carriers from all over. Also on display here are many of the animals used by the tribes for food and raw materials for crafts, clothing and shelter. The other five rooms in the museum are organized by geographic area, rather than tribal affiliation.

"Enhancing appreciation of our Trinidad Area's rich past" is the Trinidad Museum Society's Trinidad Museum Mission. The Trinidad Museum carries out its mission by collecting, preserving, and interpreting material and information illustrative of the human and natural heritage of California's north coast and by increasing public awareness, appreciation and understanding of the diverse cultural and natural history of the Trinidad region through collections, exhibits, events and educational activities.

The Willow Creek - China Flat Museum was started in 1988, by local residents interested in preserving history pertaining to the eastern part of Humboldt County and the western portion of Trinity County. One of our their attractions is the Bigfoot exhibit, containing generous donations of items including Bigfoot foot print casts, Bigfoot pictures, maps, and other papers exhibited in a building specifically built to house this collection.

Compiled by Mattole Union Elementary students and teachers in 1962, this book chronicles the history, people, and oil boom in the town of Petrolia, California.

As one of the most written about, and photographed Victorian houses in California, and perhaps in the United States, the William Carson Mansion epitomizes the range of possibilities for eclectic design expression that created a peculiarly American style of architecture. This 22 page book is full of large color photographs, history of the mansion, its architecture,and the exterior grounds.

Drawing on the large photographic collections of the Ferndale Museum, this books traces the history of Ferndale and surrounding communities in the Eel River Valley including Port Kenyon, Arlynda, Centerville, Grizzly Bluff, and Waddington.

Detailed descriptions of the little-known Karuk Indians of northwestern California, known as the Upriver People. The geography of the territory, everyday life of clothing, houses, subsistence, preparation of food

Published in 1966

A tale of humor and history featuring Henrietta - a ficticious fish - as the guide on a journey up the Mattole River of Northern California in an exploration of the region's creeks and peaks, and the origins of their unique names.

This 1949 American Folkways publication includes information on southern Oregon and northern California. This book features chapters about Trinidad and Humboldt and Mendocino loggers.

A history of the Danish immigrant Svendsen and Christiansen families settling in the Eel River Valley, and their descendents -- The Peter Philipsen story, founder of the Humboldt Creamery at Fernbridge -- "Life on the Christiansen farm" in the early 1900's -- "Journal of my life", born in 1913, Myrtle Philipsen relates her life of 97 years -- Old photos in the areas of Loleta, Fernbridge, and Ferndale, Humboldt County, California.

When Spanish explorers turned their ships north in the summer of 1775, they were searching for new territory for the Spanish crown. Nearly 300 miles north of San Francisco, they found safe harbor in a small but beautiful bay they called Trinidad.