Step Back in Time at Fort Humboldt State Historic Park

Fort Humboldt is situated on a bluff overlooking Humboldt Bay. This remote military post was established in 1853 to assist in conflict resolution between Native Americans, gold-seekers and settlers who had begun flooding into the area after the discovery of gold in the northern mines.

Fort Humboldt would later become the headquarters for the Humboldt Military District, which included Forts Bragg and Wright in northern Mendocino County, extending north through Humboldt County to Fort Ter-Waw in Klamath and Camp Lincoln near present-day Crescent City.

It was during its first few years that Fort Humboldt was home to one of its most famous residents, the young Captain Ulysses S. Grant. After being decorated for bravery in the Mexican-American war, he was posted to several locations including Fort Vancouver in the Pacific Northwest. The isolation of Fort Humboldt did not appeal to Grant, and after serving as commanding officer of Company F for six months, resigned his commission.

Fort Humboldt was formally abandoned in 1870 and rapidly fell into decay. Today, only the hospital building remains of the original fourteen structures and is now an historical museum dedicated to telling the story of the Fort and the Native American groups, including the Wiyot, Hoopa and Yurok of this region. In the 1980’s the Surgeon’s Quarters was reconstructed and there are plans for its establishment as a period house museum. In 2001 a historic herb and vegetable garden was recreated adjacent to the Hospital.

Fort Humboldt State Historic Park offers many exploration options with historic and reconstructed buildings; including the Fort Museum and a Logging Museum with outdoor logging machinery displays. Below are the park’s scheduled activities:

“Steam Ups” bring historic logging equipment to life on 3rd Saturdays from May through September.

Dolbeer Donkey Days — a two-day event in April featuring logging equipment in operation and a logging skills competition.

Junior Ranger Programs (ages 7-12) during the summer season.