Welcome to the Clarke Historical Museum
The mission of the Clarke Historical Museum is to celebrate the rich and varied history of Northwestern California by preserving, sharing, and interpreting that history in ways that increase knowledge, enrich the spirit, engage the mind, and stimulate the imagination.

Museum Hours:
Wednesday - Sunday 
11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

The Clarke will be closed on Sunday, July 27, 2025, due to limited staffing. We will also be closed on August 14, 2025. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.​

Admission:
Admission is a suggested donation of $10 per individual or $30 for a group of five. 

​Information on School Tours
*Click Here*​​
Whether a tourist or a local, a stop in Old Town Eureka is not complete without a visit to the Clarke Historical Museum.
​
Founded by Eureka High School teacher Cecile Clarke, the museum has been housed in the landmark Bank of Eureka building since 1960. The Clarke Museum proudly displays the rich history of Humboldt County, which includes vibrant Native American cultures, gold rush settlements, the lumber industry, prosperous ranching, farming and livelihoods wrung from the sea. Walking through period rooms and changing exhibits, visitors can glimpse Victorian elegance, remarkable craftsmanship, and everyday work, home, life and play from Humboldt County’s past.
​
We look forward to making your next visit to Humboldt a historic one!
 Picture
DID YOU KNOW: Originally named the Clarke Memorial Museum after her parents,
it was renamed to become the Clarke Historical Museum in 2001!
ARTS ALIVE 2025
​Clarke Historical Museum is open 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.  during Eureka Arts Alive.
Donations welcomed.

Quickly, easily, and safely donate to the museum through PayPal using the yellow button below!

    Join our Newsletter!

2025 Exhibits

Main Hall:

Picture
​
"History of McKinleyville"
Nealis Hall:
Florence Harrie (1889-1981, Karuk)
Traditional Tastes

Weaving a Legacy
 Sculpting History: The Hoopa Pottery Guild
Native News
Traditional Design, New Materials:
Crochet Caps

Emmerson Room:
Trade with the East
More Digital Goodies
Saturday Speaker Series
Ask a Curator Video Series
Clarke TikTok Videos
​Behind the Scenes at the Clarke
​Gather Post-Screening Panel
​HHS 2020 Presentations

Upcoming Events

Saturday Speaker Series
2:30 p.m.
Free and open to the public!
August Arts Alive
Saturday, August 2, 2025
​6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Free and open to the public!
Very Victorian Tea
TBD
TBA (either 2 to 5 p.m. or 4 to 7 p.m.).
An Evening of Gratitude
Friday, December 5th
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
We're in the News!
The Clarke Historical Museum would like to thank the readers of the North Coast Journal for voting us Best Museum in Humboldt County in 2024. Your support is appreciated and so important to us, and we are honored to have earned the title!

Become a member

School Tours

Thank you to our grant donors and business sponsors for their ongoing support of the Clarke Historical Museum!

2024 Grant Awards

2023-24 Premium Sponsors 

2023-24 Sponsors

Picture
Saturday Speaker

Thanks for voting us as the Best Museum for 2024!