A laid-back coastal town in California surrounded by ancient redwood forests, with local art galleries and an annual jazz celebration.
Eureka sits along Humboldt Bay 270 miles north of San Francisco, making it the largest coastal city between San Francisco and Portland. Walk past elaborate Victorian mansions like the turreted Carson Mansion, feed red pandas at California's oldest zoo, or hike through 67 acres of towering redwoods in Sequoia Park. Watch fishing boats unload their daily catch at the working seaport, or join the monthly Arts Alive events where local artists display their work in more than 80 downtown venues.
Exploring Old Town Historic District
The 154-building historic district contains Victorian-era structures from Eureka's 19th-century lumber boom. You'll find independent bookstores like Eureka Books, antique shops, and art galleries in these preserved buildings. The district's original commercial buildings from the 1800s earned it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. Local artists have painted murals throughout downtown, adding contemporary art to the Victorian streetscape.
Victorian Architecture and Carson Mansion
Built in 1884, the Carson Mansion stands as a masterpiece of Queen Anne architecture. Its three stories include multiple towers, intricate wooden details, and complex design elements that make it the most photographed Victorian house in America. While you can't enter this private club, you'll find excellent photo opportunities from Second Street and the bay-facing viewpoints.
Sequoia Park Zoo and Forest
Walk among century-old redwoods at California's oldest zoo, where you can watch red pandas, river otters, bears, and gibbons. Take the Redwood Sky Walk 100 feet up into the canopy for a bird's-eye view of the forest. The adjacent 67-acre Sequoia Park includes hiking trails through redwood groves and meadows, duck ponds, and the city's largest public playground.
Arts and Museums
The Morris Graves Museum of Art occupies the former Carnegie Free Library building, with changing exhibitions of regional and international artists. Learn about North Coast history at the Clarke Historical Museum, which tells stories of Native American cultures, gold rush settlements, and maritime industries. On the first Saturday of each month, downtown galleries stay open late for Arts Alive, with musicians performing on street corners.
Maritime Activities
Take a one-hour cruise on the MV Madaket, a passenger ferry operating since 1910, to learn about Humboldt Bay's ecology and maritime past. Visit the Humboldt Bay Maritime Museum to see artifacts from the region's seafaring history. At Woodley Island Marina, you can watch commercial fishing boats bring in salmon, crab, and tuna throughout the day.
Annual Events and Festivals
Join the Kinetic Grand Championship each May to watch human-powered art sculptures race across 50 miles of land, water, and mud. Summer Friday Night Markets fill Old Town with local craftspeople, food vendors, and musicians. In spring, the Redwood Coast Music Festival brings jazz, swing, and blues performers to venues throughout the city.
