Places in the Sun

Fern Cottage

We’re here with Irene Harville Hannaford of Fern Cottage, the historic Ferndale home of pioneers Joseph and Zipporah Russ:

Joseph Russ came from Maine in 1849; Zipporah from Pennsylvanie three years later. They married in 1854, and began a family of 13 children.. In 1866 they built Fern Cottage, which grew to 31 rooms

They were cattle ranchers, owning 50,000 acres, 26 ranches, slaughter house, several meat markets, three schooners, a dry goods store and a bank.

Fern Cottage is one of few California homes open to the public that was occupied by the same family for over a century and has all original and family furnishings. Victorian is the theme, but there are fine Craftsman pieces, too.

We’re open year ‘round for group tours by reservation. See our web site for details: www.ferncottage.org

Humboldt Botanical Gardens

We're with Evelyn Giddings, president of the Humboldt Botanical Garden Foundation:

In 1991 a few enthusiastic volunteers decided it was time for our region to have a world-class botanical garden. Now, thousands of volunteer hours later, we?re close to our goal. We have a beautiful 44-acre site above The College of the Redwoods, overlooking Humboldt Bay.

Last year we completed the: Lost Coast Brewery Native Plant Garden and Phase One of the Moss Family Temperate Woodland Garden. We prepared soil and irrigation for the Dedekam Ornmental Terrace Garden. And, we had the grand opening of the All-Happy-Now earth sculpture, a labyrinthine earth-and-grass ziggurat. By mid-year we?ll be propagating plants in the Sun Valley Dutch Greenhouse.

We?ll have three or four events this year and guided tours on Saturdays between 10 and 2. Visit our Humboldt Botanical Garden website: www.hbgf.org

Clarke Historical Museum

We're with Pam Service, Executive Director of the Clarke Historical Museum:

The Clarke Historical Museum has been Humboldt County's history museum since the 1920s. We have a large and growing collection that illustrates all aspects of local history, from the distant to the recent past. The Clarke is particularly known for its outstanding collection of local Native American basketry and regalia. Our exhibits change frequently, so you can drop in often and always see something new. Tours can be scheduled for school children and other groups. We also take programs out into the community. The Clarke museum is located in Eureka's Old Town at Second and E Streets. We?re open from 11 to 4, Wednesday through Saturdy. Admission is free though donations are appreciated

Discovery Museum

We’re with Crissy Duncan, president of the Discovery Museum.

The Discovery Museum is our county’s only children’s museum. It began in 1995 as a “museum without walls,” taking portable exhibits to schools and events. Today it’s at 3rd and F Streets in Old Town, Eureka. Before long, we hope to have a new, permanent home.

At the Discovery Museum youngsters explore and learn through hands-on activities, such as building a tower from giant Legos or making a golf ball travel upside down.. We have drop-off programs during Old Town evening events. And, generous community support allows us to offer such free regular programs as Adventure Afternoon, Family Fun Night and Young Discoverers. And, we have a seasonal outdoor facility among the redwoods along Freshwater Creek.. There’s always lots to do at the Discovery Museum. Come join the fun.

Morris Graves Museum of Art

We’re with Jemima Harr, Executive Director and Curator of the Morris Graves Museum of Art.

When the county moved out of the historic Carnegie Library at Eureka’s Seventh and F Streets for a new location,the Humboldt Arts Council acquired the building. It became the county’s first art museum, named after Morris Graves, probably the area’s best known artist. He donated and raised funds for it and bequeathed his own art collection to the museum.

Today we have some three dozen exhibitions a year, featuring local, regional and international artists. We have an active docent council of 28 volunteers. They give tours of the museum, as well as presentations that are part of our annual Art Bank Traveling Exhibition in schools throughout the county. .

The Morris Graves Museum of Art is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 12 Noon to 5 p.m. Admission’s free. Our aim is to make art accessible to all. We hope you’ll come visit us.

Economic Fuel

Many young people move away because there aren?t enough career opportunities here. That?s where the organization Economic Fuel comes in. It provides start-up money and expertise to young entrepreneurs with promising business ideas.

Economic Fuel began as an idea of Humboldt businessman Rob Arkley. He?d read about business-plan competitions elsewhere and said, Why not here? So, with academicians at Humboldt State and College of the Redwoods, he created Economic Fuel. In the first quarter each year college student applicants submit business plans. In April, eight are chosen for grants totaling over $100,000.

A team of 34 advisers coaches the winners through the start-up process. Among recent ones are Agogo, a vegetarian sushi eatery; AlgaRhythms, which turns algae into rich fertilizer; and Redwood Outfitters, providing horseback tours of Redwood National Park. Economic Fuel works for them, and all Humboldt County wins.

Sunshine for Humboldt is a non-profit civic association dedicated to celebrating the people and places that make this a good place to live.

Humboldt Wineries

This time the sunshine is liquid--in the form of the wines made right here .

Today, 27 members make up the Humboldt Wine Association. They're based from Briceland in the south to Orleans in the north. Altogether, they produce some 15,000 cases of wine a year. By industry standards that's defined as “small,” but keep in mind that it's trebled in the last 10 years, from 5,000 cases.

So has the number of people employed by our the wineries, going from about 30 to 100 today.

Tom Meagher, chairman of the Association, says the county's wineries would like to double their production again over the next decade. This will mean expanding their marketing beyond the county.

He says Humboldt wines are “true handcrafted products.” As testimony, they're winning prizes not only at our county fair, but also at the state and other fairs. So, next time you raise your glass in a toast, make it wth a made-in-Humboldt wine.