"...Northern California where ... treess are perfectly straight & are approximately 300 feet tall and are 2000 or more years old. It is the most beautiful place I remember being in."
- Anonymous
Humboldt County was - and still is - home to the Yurok, Wiyot, and Hoopa Native Americans (as well as many other Tribes), and has long attracted settlers, travelers, and European Americans for its natural beauty. Mostly a rural area, its defining feature was its many acres of California Redwood trees, which are still greatly present today.
This area also had industries in logging and whaling, as well as military bases such as Fort Humboldt, in which Ulysses S. Grant served as a commanding officer. Beginning in the early 20th century this area also witnessed a migration to its Humboldt Normal College, which came to be known as Humboldt State Teacher's College in the 1920s. The college was mostly erected in response to a need for teachers in rural areas.
Within Humboldt County are several historical landmarks and places of interest, such as the Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse and downtown Eureka. Humboldt is one of the oldest counties in the state, and has been attracting people since the 19th century. For instance, the city of Trinidad has been listed by the California State Parks Office of Historic Preservation as a place of historical interest. It is the oldest known town on the California Northern Coast.
Credits
Curated by Brittani Alberto, Special Collections Student Intern