Historic Military Fort [Eureka CA]…read more There's a lot to take in historically from Fort Humboldt. Although this site seems peaceful now, at one time it was the hub of a conflict between settlers and Native Americans. We walked through the grassy park area stopping to read interpretive signs along the way educating ourselves. The history of Fort Humboldt State Historic Park dates back to 1853. First, one of the most famous military personalities to serve here was Captain Ulysses S. Grant, the future U.S. President and commander of all Union forces during the Civil War. He was stationed here as Captain of Company F, 4th Infantry, in 1853-1854. His story is shared in historic signage and markers. No wait... FIRST! Fort Humboldt State Historic Park is haunted! The GhostTube app captured some anomalies when we used it. I posted a couple of videos. During its glory, the fort had 14 buildings: Officer's Quarters, barracks, a hospital, a blacksmith shop, a horse stable, and even a bakery. Wooden markers can be seen at the park indicating where they once stood. The reconstructed Surgeon's Quarters and original Fort Hospital remain standing till today and I wonder if they open the doors to visitors during park hours. One part of the park are collection of exhibits not related to the military history: railroad equipment and machinery used in the early days of 150 years of local logging history including a Donkey engine. Review #3772

This was a nice and peaceful park. It is a short walk around to see all the displays. There are a…read morefew buildings still left from the time it was a fort. Amongst the trees on the other side of the park, there is the remnants of the trains and steam engines from the logging days.

Located in Old Town, this museum is definitely worth a visit. As soon as we entered, friendly and…read moreknowledgeable volunteers struck up a conversation and gave us the lay of the land. The museum, one of the largest in northwestern CA, has impressive collections of Humboldt county history and local Native American artifacts. In particular they are known for an extensive, beautiful basket collection. The gift shop is attractive, especially the carved wooden bird collection. We could not resist the Great Heron, and it looks lovely in our home. On leaving the volunteers happily gave us lunch suggestions! Museum and history lovers will enjoy this place.

Comprehensive history museum with interesting pieces. Definitely worth a visit. Lots of local…read moreartifacts.

This museum is such a wonderful little stop along the coast. It's clearly well loved and…read moremaintained, and has several rooms full of the colorful history of Trinidad. Patty, the sweet woman who welcomed us in, was easily my favorite. She is the definition of someone who loves her job. She loved to answer our questions, while giving fascinating descriptions of events and history. This place was wonderful, and a perfect place to stop, especially in the rain!!! Thanks Patty:)

This review is for the botanical gardens at the library and museum. When we arrived, the museum and…read morelibrary were not open because they didnt open until 12pm. We ended up walking and touring the botanical gardens instead. This is a perfect place to sit down for lunch of read a book. Taking a moment to yourself in a peaceful and quiet setting. The botanical gardens is a short yet well maintained path. The decomposed granite path curves through beautiful blooming native plants. Native plants full of blossoms and happy bees working hard to pollinate. The paths are short and small but loop around a little pond. It's very nice. If you have the time, stop by and appreciate this botanical garden.

Definitely worth a stop. Entry is only $5 for adults. It's a small collection so if you only want…read moreto go in for 1/2 hour to give it a Quick Look it's doable. I try to go in every Historic Carnegie Library. Some are still library's but this one was restored for the community for art. This is one of 1,689 he had built in the US. What a great man to build something for the good of society. Was a wonderful way to make books available to everyone. The building inside and out is beautiful.

Worth a visit just to see the lovely Andrew Carnegie public library. Seemed to have primarily…read moreexhibits featuring local artists, with at least some of the work for sale (we bought a nice print created by a local artist).

The museum was built in 1920, originally a bank. It still has the old vault. It's full of history…read moreand photos to look through. The area beside the museum is great for a picnic and the whole town is cute to walk around. Open during the summer. Thursday thru Saturday 10-3.

So we tooted by the town of Scotia and wanted to check out this little museum but it was closed…read more Upon a closer look at the sign on the window, it seems like it's been CLOSED since 2018?! I took a picture of the sign. Best suggestion is call before you make the drive.

So much fun for our three year old and one year old. We had to take them out after two hours cause…read moreit was time for lunch and nap but they would have kept playing!!! Absolutely love how perfect it is for under age 5. The front room has some things for older kids. It's nice how it's basically all one giant room so if you're going alone with multiple children it's definitely manageable. They even have hot coffee (Keurig) and tea for kids. My only complaint is the sensory area (the busy boards were placed a little too high for the kids to reach). But overall, this place is a MUST. $6/person. Under 2 are free. Definitely affordable. Thank you!!!

Great spot for the younger kiddos to burn off some energy. We flew into town and stopped here for…read more2-3 hours and let the kids get that energy out. While there are "infant" areas, I'd say that this place is ideal for the 2 years through kindergarten crowd. Grocery shopping area, water play, baby doll area, gardening area...and it's not too big. It's definitely worth the $5/pp admission. The gift shop has some great M&D items but all have been there awhile as you can see the fading from the sun (and overpriced compared to what you can buy on AMZN). 5 stars for a great kids museum in a small town.

Chapman's Gem & Mineral Shop in Humboldt County is one of those rare places that feels less like a…read morestore and more like an experience you'll carry with you long after you leave. We arrived on what had already been a tough day, but the moment we stepped inside, everything shifted. The selection alone is incredible, tables and cases filled with stunning specimens, from deep blue kyanite to vibrant tangerine quartz and beautiful geodes. Outside, the yard is a treasure trove in itself, with bins of rose quartz and countless stones just waiting to be discovered. It truly feels like a hands-on adventure. What made the visit unforgettable, though, were the guys working there. They were genuinely kind, welcoming, and incredibly informative. They took the time to talk with us, answer questions, and share their knowledge in a way that made the experience feel personal and meaningful, not rushed or transactional. Their passion for what they do is obvious, and it's contagious. They turned what started as a difficult day into a full-blown treasure hunt for our family. By the time we left, we weren't just carrying stones; we were carrying a sense of joy, curiosity, and connection. We left completely satisfied and truly thankful for the experience. If you're anywhere near Humboldt County, this place is absolutely worth a stop. It's not just about what you find, it's about how you feel while you're there.

We stopped by this famous rock shop on our way up to Redwoods. They had the typical piles of rocks…read moreoutside and decor you would expect from a roadside hockshop, but I was truly impressed by the novel selection of crystals available and their impressive gem and mineral museum. I ended up getting a Prehnite and Epidote crystal specimen, Pyrite on matrix, and a quartz cluster. The crystals were relatively affordable! The museum area had an impression selection of cabs and I really enjoyed seeing the rocks from around California. The fluorescent display was very eye catching.

It was an amazing adventure into Humboldt past! Don was our tour guide so to speak and he was a…read morewealth of knowledge, loves his subject and made it a truly lovely experience.

The Humboldt Bay Maritime Museum is a small local museum - located to the left of the Samoa…read moreCookhouse. As I entered, I made a $10.00 donation to support their operation and signed into their guest book. The museum is stuffed full of interesting nautical, naval, maritime stuff and exhibits. There is so much in here - I think they could benefit from a large building! I spent about 40 minutes or so reading through and perusing the various exhibits. Very enjoyable! Very cool and interesting museum! #HumboldtBayMaritimeMuseum

Awesome and very informative museum with lots of local flora and fauna. There is a small admission…read morefee but it's totally worth it. Great stop for anyone interested in learning about natural history and has lots of fun little hands on exhibits for little kids. Worth a stop if you are in the area. It's a short walk from Humboldt State and downtown Arcata.

Fantastic local Natural History Museum! Lots of excellent interpretive exhibits! The Museum is run…read moreby Humboldt State University. There is an admission fee to get in - (I forget how much - but it was not a lot). The exhibits focus on the geologic history of the world (lots of dinosaur information), as well as information about the local area wildlife, forests, and more. There is also a nice selection of gifts in their gift shop. #HumboldtStateNaturalHistoryMuseum