Eureka!

Currently In: Crescent City
Leaving for Crater Lake National Park today


We took a drive down Highway 101 to the cute town of Eureka, CA.  I love the historic towns all over the US, but we have visited so many that were in disrepair.  It was great to see one that was thriving!
Cafe Waterfront is a good example of Queen Anne architecture.  Originally the two story Weaver Building housed a saloon on the ground floor and supported a brothel upstairs.  Later it was the Bluebird Cabaret charging a dime a dance.  Today it has a delicious brunch. 

There was jazz music with our lunch.  So relaxing.

We tried the Oyster Shooters.  Cheers!

We took a walk along the harbor and saw this fishing boat returning to the harbor.

Next we walked through the historic part of Old Eureka.  It was very cute.

We stopped to see the wooden sculpture garden of Romano Gabriel.  Between 1915 and 1967 he made these wooden pieces that eventually covered his entire front yard and attracted tourists.  I tried to take a close up to highlight how unique his art is. 

We took a drive through the neighborhood of Victorian Homes.  The Carson mansion is the largest and most intricate.  It is now a private club.

This is the Carson House.  It fell into disrepair until it was purchased and restored in the 1960s.  It is now known as the "Pink Lady".

This beautiful yellow house in now a bed and breakfast.

Our RV park was not in Eureka, but in Crescent City.  Here is the view of Crescent Harbor right in front of our rig.  Typically lots of fog.

Crescent City is known for a couple of things - lighthouses and the tsunami that hit in 1964.  The tsunami devastated the city, so the houses and other buildings are from the late 1960's and beyond.  There are posted signs all over town telling people to move to high ground in case of tsunami.  And others like this.

The lighthouses are much more interesting.  We can see the Battery Point Lighthouse from our RV site.  It is one of the first lighthouses on the California Coast dating back to 1856.  I love this shot at dusk.

You can only go visit this particular lighthouse at low tide because you have to cross the harbor  and then walk the road.  Here is the path at high and low tide.

Once you make it up the road you are treated to some cool sea art.

Gray whale

Old Fisherman

We took a tour of the lighthouse, but I was not allowed to take any photos inside the keeper's quarters.  The docent told us many interesting stories! The last keeper left in 1953 although the lighthouse is still operational and run by the Coastguard.  There are volunteers who stay at the lighthouse just to make sure the automatic halogen light does not ever go out.

The other lighthouse in Crescent City is called St. George Reef Lighthouse.  It is 6 miles offshore and barely visible from the lookout point.  They only do 4 tours a year and you have to take a helicopter to get there.  It is $300 per person.

The view along St. George Point is spectacular and the cliffs remind me a bit of Ireland.

While we were at the Battery Point Lighthouse I saw a likeness of the one at St. George Reef.  The lighthouse was operational from 1892 until 1975.  It was the worst keeper assignment to have since it was so far away from shore.

Final note about Crescent City and cities along the  Northern California Coast.  The rhododendron are in full bloom.   Here is an example, but I have seen different shapes and sizes and some variation in color.  Gorgeous, simply gorgeous!