The Humboldt Bay and Ships

Humboldt Bay

The Humboldt Bay proved exceptionally valuable to the region, not only as a means to transport cargo, but as a means of travel as well. The Bay is the a safe and commodious harbor that is accessible to most vessels except those with deep drafts, making it a popular point of entry inland. 

The Humboldt Bay is the only landlocked harbor between San Francisco and the Oregon state line. The Bay is 14 miles long and spans from 1 to 4 miles wide, making it an easy port to unload and load all sorts of treasures into and out of Humboldt County.

Ships and Travel

The travel via ship remained a dominant factor during this era. The route to and from Humboldt consisted of three lines of freight and passenger steamers. One route came south from San Francisco, and the other two went north to Coos bay and farther north to Astoria, Oregon.

Although the trip through the water was a popular one, it did have its dangers. Many ships attempting to make the trip met a disasterous fate, with many ending up in the bottom of the Bay.