The Humboldt County Historical Society (HCHS) is a regional historical society, primarily focused on the history of
Humboldt County,
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
. Offices, bookstore, collections, and research staff are located in
Eureka
Eureka (often abbreviated as E!, or Σ!) is an intergovernmental organisation for research and development funding and coordination. Eureka is an open platform for international cooperation in innovation. Organisations and companies applying th ...
.
Overview
The society is open to requests by the public for research in the society's collection, which consists mostly of documents. HCHS also provides a number of educational opportunities, including frequent public talks on various aspects of Humboldt County History, and publishes a quarterly journal and books.
Mission
The society provides the following statement of purpose: The HCHS shall further an understanding and appreciation of all peoples, places, events, and activities of Humboldt County and related areas. The society shall accomplish this by acquiring, creating, preserving, interpreting and disseminating historical information and by assisting others to do the same.
Gross-Wells-Barnum House
The society offices are housed in the former home of the late Helen Wells Barnum, previous owner of the historic
Eureka Inn
The Eureka Inn in Eureka, California is a four-story, 104-room Elizabethan Tudor Revival architectural style hotel, which opened in 1922. In February 1982, the structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 2004, the inn w ...
. Built by her maternal grandparents, Dr. and Mrs. Reuben Gross, in 1902, the beautiful two-story Colonial Revival style house was donated to the Society in 1993 through Mrs. Barnum's estate. Much of the lower floor of the home is open to the public during business hours.
Bookstore
The HCHS bookstore offers the most extensive array of historical publications (over 100) and historic photos on the region.
Historical publication
HCHS publishes the Humboldt Historian quarterly. The Historian has been in continuous publication since 1953. Subscription is included in the cost membership to the society.
Collections
The Historical Society is the primary repository for print materials, maps, and photographs that have a bearing on Humboldt County history. To date there are more than 50 separate collections of documents cared for by the society.
Research Library
The Society's Research Library contains collections of genealogical information as well as local history. The research library is available on a drop-in basis during our open hours. Research requests are best handled by mail or e-mail and non-members are charged fees.
Programs and events
HCHS Lecture Series is monthly on the first Saturday in the Humboldt County Library (Main branch - Eureka) meeting room (1:30 PM)
See also
*
Clarke Historical Museum
The Clarke Historical Museum (formerly the Clarke Memorial Museum) in Eureka, California contains the area's premier collection of California North Coast regional and cultural history. The facility houses a Native American wing, Nealis Hall, whic ...
*
Humboldt Bay Maritime Museum
The Humboldt Bay Maritime Museum is located in Samoa, California, a small town across Humboldt Bay from Eureka. The focus of the museum is the preservation and interpretation of its collection of artifacts, photographs, library archives and materi ...
External links
Humboldt County Historical Society website
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Museums in Humboldt County, California
History of Humboldt County, California
Historical societies in California
Tourist attractions in Eureka, California
Buildings and structures in Eureka, California