Eureka, California (Old Town)

Eureka is on the Northern California Coast, with Humbolt Bay to its west and giant redwood forests to the east.  I didn't find most of Eureka to be particularly attractive, but the Old Town district is worthy of a visit.  Other sections of Eureka contain some of the most impressive Victorian houses I have seen, but they are not concentrated in any one historic area. David Gebhard, Professor of architectural history of Santa Barbara, has remarked that Eureka is the west coast Williamsburg, Virginia, preserving extensive Victorian homes and public buildings, including many ornate examples of Colonial Revival, Eastlake, Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne, and Stick styles of Victorian architecture.  All of these styles are present in the most famous and possibly most ornate of Victorian homes, The Carson Mansion.  Approximately 16% of the city contains important historical structures.  13 distinct districts have been identified which meet the criteria for the National Register of Historic Places.