RN: Eureka, with a population of about 27,000 is the largest coastal city between San Francisco CA and Portland OR, and it sits on Humboldt Bay, which is the second largest bay in California. It has a thriving Old Town with beautifully restored Victorian houses and abundant murals. You get the sense of a hippie vibe when you see old guys in long ponytails strolling down the street. There are lots of cool restaurants and bars.

Eureka (from the Greek word for “I have found it”) was founded by white settlers during the gold rush after it had been the home of the Wiyot people for thousands of years. The settlers brought ruin to the native people and their aggression culminated in the 1860 massacre of women, children, and elders during their annual World Renewal Ceremony on Tuluwat Island when the men were away. The remaining Wiyot have struggled to maintain their culture and land on the island.  In 2000, the Wiyot bought 1.5 acres using grassroots funding, then, in 2004 Eureka gave them 40 acres. In 2009, Eureka relinquished the remaining 202 acres of the island to the tribe (I learned all of this at Da Gou Rou Louwi’ Cultural Center in Old Town).

FE. First impression: Fun Main Street Businesses, it is tourist season, but the town is not overrun.

With funky displays, here is a logger preparing his marshmallow in the the Chocolate Factory window

and a handy map mural

showing us the locations of more cool murals

the Center of Performing Arts

The Carson Mansion

so amazing it deserves two pics

Finally…the Pink Lady

And, just about one mile from Old Town, the Redwood Skywalk in the lovely Sequoia Park Zoo

We end the evening with a great meal at the Eureka Sea Grill. Here I am with Laura, our wonderful server