◈ Homepage — https://delnortehistory.org/(707) 464-3922 [email protected] 0 Items Home About Discover Del Norte The Museum Lighthouses Tribes & Other Nations The S.S. Brother Jonathan Tsunamis Bookstore Special Events Contact Us Battery Point Lighthouse Del Norte County Historical Society Del Norte History, More Precious than Gold. The Del Norte County Historical Society welcomes you to Del Norte County’s history. Established in 1951, the Society manages both the Main Museum at 6th and H Street and the Battery Point Lighthouse at the foot of Lighthouse Way in Crescent City, California. Our mission is to discover, collect, preserve and present the documents, structures, artifacts and ideas pertaining to Del Norte County, and to provide suitable museums or homes for such items in order to maintain them as public educational resources. The Del Norte County Historical Society is staffed mainly by volunteers and supported by the general membership through annual dues, contributions, and special events. The general public supports the Society through their donations, admissions, research, and reproduction fees and by purchases made at our gift shops at both the Main Museum and Battery Point Lighthouse. The Society is also supported by bequests, gifts and donations made in honor of loved ones and friends remembered in our “Book of Memories.” Members receive a quarterly publication of the Society called “Reflections”, our newsletter packed with stories and events of the past along with information of upcoming events and happenings. Members are also entitled to receive discounts in both of our gift shops, free admission to both the Main Museum and Battery Point Lighthouse as well as special invitations to Society events and educational programs. The Society’s extensive research archives include books, newspapers, obituaries, and other reference materials and are housed in the Main Museum. Research requests can be made in person, by telephone at 707-464-3922 or by email at [email protected]. The Historical Society is a charitable, non-profit 501(c)3 organization. All contributions are greatly appreciated and tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by IRS Codes. TOLOWA & YUROK The Tribes The Main Museum hosts one of the finest collections of basketry by the Tolowa and Yurok including artifacts from other tribes and nations. MORE ON THE TOLOWA MORE ON THE YUROK LIGHT IT UP Lighthouses Del Norte County can boast of not just one lighthouse, but two! Battery Point Lighthouse is an active lighthouse that serves as a private aid to navigation. The Lighthouse was first lit with oil lamps on December 10, 1856. St. George Reef is also an active light, 7 miles off-shore from Point St. George, and dates from October 1891. MORE ON BATTERY POINT MORE ON ST. GEORGE REEF LIGHTHOUSE CALIFORNIA’S WORST MARITIME DISASTER The Brother Jonathan The wreck of the ship Brother Jonathan, and loss of over 200 lives in rock-strewn storm-tossed waters off Point St. George in 1865, created a defining moment in maritime history, and led to the establishment of America’s most expensive lighthouse   READ MORE A CATASTROPHE Tsunamis On March 27, 1964, sea waves generated by a 9.2-magnitude earthquake near Anchorage, Alaska, raced more than 1400 miles southward at jetliner speeds. Multiple waves roiled into Crescent City in the middle of the night bringing death and destruction, but in their aftermath, a community-led determination to rebuild and think to the future. READ MORE Main Museum Lighthouse Museum Contact Del Norte County Historical Society 577 H Street Crescent City, CA. 95531 707-464-3922 Copyright Del Norte County Historical Society - All rights reserved | Site by Bicoastal Media in partnership with Land Design House | Admin ◈ Interior Pages — 10 pages crawledBattery Point Lighthouse (707) 464-3922 [email protected] Facebook Message Click Here --> Facebook 0 Items Home About About DNCHS Our Mission Membership Outreach Programs Download Brochure Discover Del Norte Del Norte County Del Norte’s Economic History The Museum About the Museum Museum Collections Lighthouses Battery Point Lighthouse St. George Reef Lighthouse Tribes & Other Nations The Tolowa The Yurok The S.S. Brother Jonathan Tsunamis Bookstore Special Events Contact Us Select Page Battery Point Lighthouse Battery Point Lighthouse and its museum are located at the foot of Lighthouse Way in Crescent City, California. This is an active lighthouse that serves as a private aid to navigation. Its oil lamps were first lit on December 10, 1856. Lighthouse keepers still reside there. The Battery Point Lighthouse is open to the public for tours which include the opportunity to look into the personal quarters of keepers and their families and at the furniture and artifacts left behind since the 1850’s. Tours include a climb into the light tower. There are displays of many maritime artifacts, photographs, and documents that chronicle its history. In its 160-year history, many keepers and their families have tended the light. Also known as the Crescent City Light Station, the lighthouse was operated by the U.S. Lighthouse Service until 1936 when the U.S. Coast Guard took over operation and maintenance. The light was automated in 1953, but the Coast Guard continued to maintain the Fifth Order Drumm lens until 1965 when it was decommissioned. The light was then reactivated as a private aid to navigation in 1982. During the 1964 tsunami, the resident keepers were stranded in the lighthouse. Although there was no damage to the lighthouse itself, the trapped keepers were helpless as they watched in horror throughout the night as the series of waves wreaked havoc on the mainland and swirled around the base of the lighthouse. The keepers provided a terrifying eyewitness account of the destruction caused to Crescent City. Many great stories about Battery Point Lighthouse’s history and Native American legends about the island have been crafted over time, including tales of its resident ghost. Photographers and artists have captured the beauty of the Lighthouse thousands of times making it one of the most vivid images in all of Del Norte County. The scenic beauty has made Battery Point Lighthouse the subject of film companies for movies, television programs, commercials and music videos. Visits to the Battery Point Lighthouse and island are only possible at low tide. Extreme care and caution should be used when crossing the two hundred feet between the mainland and island anytime wave action may cover the crossing area. Sneaker waves are a threat to visitors standing on or near the rocks and the shore of the island. Care by visitors should be taken to protect all natural wildlife and plant life on the island. Business Hours Spring/Summer Season April – September 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. TIDE PERMITTING Fall/Winter Season October – March 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. TIDE PERMITTING Although business hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., please remember that Battery Point Lighthouse sits on a tidal island and is only accessible at low tide. Although tour schedules are made with the tide log, times are not always accurate. All tours are scheduled TIDE PERMITTING. It is still staffed by volunteer keepers. Our partner, Village Camper Inn, hosts our volunteer keepers. villagecamperinn.com See Battery Point on Facebook  The wedding policy for the lighthouse is available online here . Main Museum Lighthouse Museum Contact Del Norte County Historical Society 577 H Street Crescent City, CA. 95531 707-464-3922 Facebook Copyright Del Norte County Historical Society - All rights reserved | Site by Bicoastal Media in partnership with Land Design House | Admin The Yurok - Del Norte County Historical Society (707) 464-3922 [email protected] Facebook Message Click Here --> Facebook 0 Items Home About About DNCHS Our Mission Membership Outreach Programs Download Brochure Discover Del Norte Del Norte County Del Norte’s Economic History The Museum About the Museum Museum Collections Lighthouses Battery Point Lighthouse St. George Reef Lighthouse Tribes & Other Nations The Tolowa The Yurok The S.S. Brother Jonathan Tsunamis Bookstore Special Events Contact Us Select Page The Yurok Yurok people have lived in Northwestern California along the Redwood Coast and the Klamath River since Noohl Hee-Kon (time immemorial). Traditionally Yurok people living on the upper region of the Klamath River are Pe-cheek-lah, lower region of the Klamath River Puelik-lah, and the coast, Ner-er-ner. Oohl, translates to mean Indian people, and describes the entirety of the Yurok people. The name Yurok comes from the Karuk word for “downriver”, this is the most widely used word to describe the Tribe and people. “The Ancestral Lands of the Yurok Tribe extend unbroken along the Pacific Ocean coast(including usual and customary off¬shore fishing areas) from Damnation Creek, its northern boundary, to the southern boundary of the Little River drainage basin, and unbroken along the Klamath River, including both sides and its bed, from its mouth upstream to and including the Bluff Creek drainage basin. Included within these lands are the drainage basin of Wilson Creek, the drainage basins of all streams entering the Klamath River from its mouth upstream to and including the Bluff Creek and Slate Creek drainage basins, including the village site at Big Bar (except for the drainage basin upstream from the junction of Pine Creek and Snow Camp Creek), and the Canyon Creek (also known as Tank Creek) drainage basin of the Trinity River, the drainage basins of streams entering the ocean or lagoons between the Klamath River and Little River (except for the portion of the Redwood Creek drainage basin beyond the McArthur Creek drainage basin, and except for the portion of the Little River drainage basin which lies six miles up from the ocean). Our Ancestral Lands include all submerged lands, and the beds, banks and waters of all the tributaries within the territory just described. Also included within the Ancestral Lands is a shared interest with other tribes in ceremonial high country sites and trails as known by the Tribe, as well as the Tribes usual and customary hunting, fishing and gathering sites. The Ancestral Lands are depicted on the “Map of Yurok Ancestral Lands”, on file in the Yurok Tribal Offices’ (Constitution of the Yurok Tribe Art. 1, Sec. 1). There are more than70 known villages within the ancestral territory, most of which are situated along the Klamath River and along the Pacific Coast (Waterman 1920). Within each village, houses were constructed primarily of redwood and each house had a name. Families and descendants are associated with these specific house names (Waterman 1920: 208). Families and/or houses within villages owned specific resource gathering areas such as fishing holes, acorn-gathering spots, trapping areas, and hunting locations. Glen Moore Sr., who was from the village of Srey-gon explained in an interview in 1996 that, “most Indian people had fishing spots, they have the right to fish. Sometimes its [fishing hole] is handed down through relations. You can give a fishing place to someone else” (Moore 1996). The sweathouse is another structure found within each village. Men typically did not spend the night in a family house, instead they stayed in the sweathouse. The sweathouse was also used for ceremonial purposes such as purification before hunting or ceremonies. Yurok villages situated along river and coastal lines tend to be located near resource gathering areas such as good fishing access or coastal gathering sites. River villages tend to be on ancient river terraces and decrease in elevation the further down river they are located, providing easy access to fishing holes. Coastal villages are situated along lagoons or mouths of rivers, adding additional food resources to ones provided by the ocean. The mountain areas above the coastal and riparian areas were mostly used for gathering and hunting (Waterman 1920: 183, Bears 1969). The Yurok ancestral land is approximately 1,148 square miles (Pilling, 1978) with villages placed along the Klamath River and Pacific Ocean. Despite such a large land base, the Klamath River remains the heart of Yurok ancestral land and serves as the “highway” for Yurok people. Walt McCovey Jr in a 1996 interview explained, “That river is in the life of Indian people, we depend on the fish, depend on eels, sturgeon” (McCovey 1996). Redwood dugout canoes are utilized to travel on the River and off shore in the Ocean. Canoes could be as large as 20ft long and 5ft wide (James 1997). Also, an elaborate trail system exists connecting villages, prayer sites and gathering areas (Waterman 1920). Trails were to be treated with respect and travelers are to stay within the trail (Waterman 1920:185). The river is vital part of Yurok life providing food resources such as salmon, sturgeon, eel and other fish. Gill nets, dip nets, weirs, basket traps, and hooks are used to obtain fish from the River. On the coast, many species are harvested for consumption, including mussels, clams, seaweed, and many other resources. The primary game are deer and elk, but other smaller animals are also utilized. The other primary food source for the Yurok is acorns. Acorn gathering grounds and camps are found throughout the mountains in Yurok territory. Acorns are processed into a mush, which is cooked in large baskets with hot stones. Historical Yurok did not have contact with non-Indian explorers until much later than other tribal groups in California. One of the first documented visits in the local area was by the Spanish in the 1700s. When Spanish explorers Don Bruno de Heceta and Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Cuadra arrived in the early 1700s, they intruded upon the people of Chue-rey village. This visit resulted in Bodega laying claim by mounting a cross at Trinidad Head. In the early 1800s, the first American ship visited the area of Trinidad and Big Lagoon. Initially, the Americans traded for sea otter fur with the coastal people. However, for unknown reasons tensions grew and the American expeditions were cut short. By 1828, the area was gaining attention because of the reports back from the American expeditions, despite the news that the local terrain was rough. The most well-known trapping expedition of this era was led by Jedediah Smith. Smith guided a team of trappers through the local area, coming down through the Yurok village of Kep’-el, crossing over Bald Hills and eventually making their way to the villages of O men and O men hee-puer on the coast. Smith’s expedition, though brief, was influential to all other trappers and explorers. The reports from Smith’s expedition resulted in more trappers exploring the area and eventually leading to an increase in non-Indian settlement. By 1849, settlers were quickly moving into Northern California because of the discovery of gold at Gold Bluffs near present day Orick and Orleans on the Klamath River. Yurok and settlers traded goods and Yurok assisted with transporting items via dugout canoe. However, this relationship quickly changed as more settlers moved into the area and demonstrated hostility toward Indian people. The rough terrain of the local area did not deter settlers in their pursuit of gold. They moved through the area and encountered camps of Indian people. Hostility from both sides caused much bloodshed and loss of life. With the surge of settlers, the government was pressured to change laws to better protect the Yurok from loss of lan About the Museum (707) 464-3922 [email protected] Facebook Message Click Here --> Facebook 0 Items Home About About DNCHS Our Mission Membership Outreach Programs Download Brochure Discover Del Norte Del Norte County Del Norte’s Economic History The Museum About the Museum Museum Collections Lighthouses Battery Point Lighthouse St. George Reef Lighthouse Tribes & Other Nations The Tolowa The Yurok The S.S. Brother Jonathan Tsunamis Bookstore Special Events Contact Us Select Page About the Museum The Museum is located at the corner of 6th & H Streets in Crescent City, California. Built in 1926 as the Hall of Records, Sheriff’s Office and County Jail, the building was used as such until 1963 when the new Sheriff’s station opened. The Historical Society took over the building and with some interior remodeling, it became the Museum in 1965. The Museum houses two stories of displays, artifacts, and exhibits that bring to life the history of this section of Northcoast California. Among our wealth of interesting displays are rooms full of Native American artifacts, musical instruments, old radio, phonographic and photographic equipment, excellent needlework, early logging and mining tools and equipment, and many fashions and furniture from yesteryear. The women’s section of the former jail is intact on the second floor and its cells hold various pioneer exhibits and a blacksmith’s shop. Other displays on the second floor include a dentist office, barbershop, military memorabilia, Chinese artifacts and a medical room. The Bolen Annex, built in the early 1980’s houses the magnificent First Order Fresnel lens from the St. George Reef Lighthouse and artifacts salvaged from the wreck of the steamer Brother Jonathan, as well as a logging exhibit, a hand-carved miniature steam-donkey, mining equipment and ore samples, a railroad display and other interesting items. Photo carousels and framed photos throughout the museum chronicle the historical visual representations of people, places, and events.     Highlights of the Del Norte County Museum The Tolowa/Yurok room features our collection of local Native American artifacts, including one of the finest collections of baskets in Northern California. Its photo carousel comprises an evocative and informative history of the native people of the area throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. All photos have been donated by local families. There is also a room housing artifacts from other Native American tribes from all over the United States. Photos of the devastation of the 1964 tsunami disaster are shown at the Museum. In the early morning hours of March 28, 1964, a series of five tsunami waves generated by a strong earthquake at Prince William Sound in Alaska, struck Crescent City killing 11 people, injuring 24, and destroying 29 city blocks. The devastation caused 7 to 15 million dollars damage and became the worst tsunami damage along this country’s West Coast in recorded history.   Business Hours Spring/Summer Season Mid-May through September Monday- Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.   Fall/Winter Season October through Mid-May Mondays & Saturdays only 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Special tours and showings can be arranged in the offseason. Main Museum Lighthouse Museum Contact Del Norte County Historical Society 577 H Street Crescent City, CA. 95531 707-464-3922 Facebook Copyright Del Norte County Historical Society - All rights reserved | Site by Bicoastal Media in partnership with Land Design House | Admin Del Norte's Economic History - Del Norte County Historical Society (707) 464-3922 [email protected] Facebook Message Click Here --> Facebook 0 Items Home About About DNCHS Our Mission Membership Outreach Programs Download Brochure Discover Del Norte Del Norte County Del Norte’s Economic History The Museum About the Museum Museum Collections Lighthouses Battery Point Lighthouse St. George Reef Lighthouse Tribes & Other Nations The Tolowa The Yurok The S.S. Brother Jonathan Tsunamis Bookstore Special Events Contact Us Select Page Del Norte’s Economic History Del Norte County is located in the northwest corner of California at the border of Oregon and next to the Pacific Ocean. The region features the world’s tallest trees, scenic rivers and a rugged coastline with spectacular beaches and rocky shorelines. The County is a major tourist destination for those seeking outdoor recreation, camping, hiking, fishing, and beachcombing experiences. Logging and Lumber The lumber industry in Del Norte County began in 1870 with the organization of a joint stock company for the construction of a sawmill at Lake Earl. This would become the Crescent City Mill & Transportation Company. Simultaneously, the first railroads and wharf were built for easier shipment of the logs to the mill and lumber to the ships in port. This was the inception of what would become the most lucrative industry in Del Norte County. The availability of timber was immense as was man power. Mills popped up throughout Del Norte County only to fold up or be sold to the Hobbs Wall & Company which supported the local economy until 1939. After World War II, Del Norte County saw a great influx of lumbermen from Oregon and Washington. By 1949, there were 33 mills in the county while another 22 came in within the next two years. These 55 mills put out 124 million board feet per year. The logging and lumber trade was the largest employer in Del Norte County. The San Francisco Chronicle called Del Norte County, “a beautiful, bickering, backward booming land where the lumberman is king!” It wasn’t to last however. The State and National Parks owned two-thirds of the county with the other third owned by three major lumber operations. The smaller mills could no longer compete and folded. The larger mills followed suit about 25 years later. There are presently no sawmills in operation in Del Norte County. Once the most profitable industry in Del Norte County, logging operations and lumber mills sustained the county’s economy for over a century. However, the beautiful redwoods still continue to provide Del Norte with its most lucrative industry, as tourists come from all over to get a glimpse of the remaining old growth redwood forests and the tallest trees in the world. The Settlers The discovery of gold in Northwest California initiated the pattern of explorer-miner-entrepreneur-settler, repeated throughout California, to this area. Gold-rich areas up the Klamath, Smith, and Rogue Rivers led to a rush of newcomers to the county. The Klamath River tributaries were found to be rich in gold, but there was very little access except from the ocean. The first settlement of pioneers was Klamath City in April of 1850, but it was quickly abandoned when the winter rains altered and obstructed the channel. The river flooding led to demand for a new access point for ocean-going ships. A crescent beach to the north showed great promise. This natural harbor was instrumental in the development of what would become Crescent City. The port would prove perfect for supply ships to carry provisions and equipment for the mining communities. Incorporated in April of 1854, Crescent City was the county seat of Klamath County which became Del Norte County in 1857. Within a few short years, the city had become a major shipping and trading center. Settlers came from the Oregon Trail and by way of the Willamette Valley to the gold fields. Farming communities sprouted up in the Smith River and Elk Valleys. As the railroads were able to move materials and supplies to the interior quickly, and the production of the mines declined, the pioneers of the area turned to farming, ranching, logging, dairying, and commercial fishing. In 1857, Gasquet was developed as a resort town and became a popular stopping place for the travelers going to Oregon. The village included a lodge, store, dance hall, butcher shop, and winery. Klamath became a fisherman’s paradise and is still well-known for its wonderful fishing. Fishing Early settlers quickly realized the potential for fishing and musseling in Del Norte County. The first commercial fisheries were established on the Smith and Klamath Rivers were the Tolowa and Yurok were employed for their knowledge of the riverine and ocean fishery. The canneries were a successful and important industry of this area. The local salmon was known by merchants as top-notch. Many pounds of salt cured fish and canned mussels were shipped to San Francisco. Some companies attempted to ice the fresh fish before transit to large cities, but this was unsatisfactory at the time and abandoned. While fishing was a booming business, it effectively reduced the salmon runs and in future years the rivers would be closed to commercial fisheries. Over time, sport fishing became a tourist favorite pastime, and people flocked to Del Norte’s Klamath and Smith Rivers to fish for salmon. In 1950 Joe Sierka of Smith River purchased a yacht from the Navy and pulled it up onto dry land creating Ship A Shore Resort. The destination was busy with anglers participating in sport of King salmon fishing. Later in the 1970’s, a local writer described how the local harbor docks were bustling with boats, fish buyers, and seafood restaurants. In 1974, at a cost of slightly over three million dollars, Citizens Dock was completed with tackle shops, a marine gas station, boat repair shops and launch facilities. It became a bustling harbor where the fishermen’s catch of the day: tuna, rock cod, prawns, and crab brought immense success to the community.     Main Museum Lighthouse Museum Contact Del Norte County Historical Society 577 H Street Crescent City, CA. 95531 707-464-3922 Facebook Copyright Del Norte County Historical Society - All rights reserved | Site by Bicoastal Media in partnership with Land Design House | Admin Contact Us - Del Norte County Historical Society (707) 464-3922 [email protected] Facebook Message Click Here --> Facebook 0 Items Home About About DNCHS Our Mission Membership Outreach Programs Download Brochure Discover Del Norte Del Norte County Del Norte’s Economic History The Museum About the Museum Museum Collections Lighthouses Battery Point Lighthouse St. George Reef Lighthouse Tribes & Other Nations The Tolowa The Yurok The S.S. Brother Jonathan Tsunamis Bookstore Special Events Contact Us Select Page Contact Us Del Norte County Historical Society 577 H Street Crescent City, CA. 95531 707-464-3922 [email protected] Main Museum Lighthouse Museum Contact Del Norte County Historical Society 577 H Street Crescent City, CA. 95531 707-464-3922 Facebook Copyright Del Norte County Historical Society - All rights reserved | Site by Bicoastal Media in partnership with Land Design House | Admin About DNCHS (707) 464-3922 [email protected] Facebook Message Click Here --> Facebook 0 Items Home About About DNCHS Our Mission Membership Outreach Programs Download Brochure Discover Del Norte Del Norte County Del Norte’s Economic History The Museum About the Museum Museum Collections Lighthouses Battery Point Lighthouse St. George Reef Lighthouse Tribes & Other Nations The Tolowa The Yurok The S.S. Brother Jonathan Tsunamis Bookstore Special Events Contact Us Select Page About DNCHS “Del Norte History, More Precious than Gold.” Our mission is to discover, collect, preserve and present the documents, structures, artifacts and ideas pertaining to Del Norte County, and to provide suitable museums or homes for such items in order to maintain them as public educational resources. The Del Norte County Historical Society is staffed by volunteers and supported by the general membership through annual dues, contributions, and special events. The general public supports the Society through their donations, admissions paid, research and reproduction fees paid and purchases made from our gift stores in both the Main Museum and at Battery Point Lighthouse. The Society also is supported by bequests and family donations made in honor of loved ones recognized in our “Book of Memories”. Members receive a quarterly publication of the Society called “Reflections.” Members also receive discounts in our gifts shop, free admission to both the Museum and Battery Point Lighthouse and special invitations to Society events and educational programs. We are a charitable, non-profit 501( c )3 organization. All contributions are greatly appreciated and tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by IRS Codes. Subscribe to Our Newsletter! Keep up on happenings and special event events here at Del Norte County Historical Society Main Museum Lighthouse Museum Contact Del Norte County Historical Society 577 H Street Crescent City, CA. 95531 707-464-3922 Facebook Copyright Del Norte County Historical Society - All rights reserved | Site by Bicoastal Media in partnership with Land Design House | Admin Membership - Del Norte County Historical Society (707) 464-3922 [email protected] Facebook Message Click Here --> Facebook 0 Items Home About About DNCHS Our Mission Membership Outreach Programs Download Brochure Discover Del Norte Del Norte County Del Norte’s Economic History The Museum About the Museum Museum Collections Lighthouses Battery Point Lighthouse St. George Reef Lighthouse Tribes & Other Nations The Tolowa The Yurok The S.S. Brother Jonathan Tsunamis Bookstore Special Events Contact Us Select Page Membership The mission of the Society is to discover, collect, preserve and present the documents, artifacts, structures and properties of Del Norte County. The Society currently operates the museums on 6th and H Streets and Battery Point Lighthouse in Crescent City. The membership with annual dues and the general public with donations, bequests, and grants generously support the Society. The Book of Memories is maintained and published to acknowledge those who include the Society in their remembrances. The Society also offers special events to both raise funds and awareness of the Society’s needs and objectives. The Society is a non-profit, charitable organization. Contributions are tax deductible. The Society relies upon donations and volunteer services to fulfill its mission. If you would like to become a member of the Society, please complete the form below. You may also download the following form and send it to us. DNCHS-Member Application (PDF) Mail your completed application with a check payable to: Membership Join DNCHS! Membership entitles you to admission at no charge to both the Main Museum and the Battery Point Lighthouse during regular business hours, a 10% discount in both of our gift shops and our quarterly newsletter, Reflections, packed with the history of the area, old photos and upcoming membership events. 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Main Museum Lighthouse Museum Contact Del Norte County Historical Society 577 H Street Crescent City, CA. 95531 707-464-3922 Facebook Copyright Del Norte County Historical Society - All rights reserved | Site by Bicoastal Media in partnership with Land Design House | Admin Events from July 4, 2019 – July 4, 2019 – Del Norte County Historical Society (707) 464-3922 [email protected] Facebook Message Click Here --> Facebook 0 Items Home About About DNCHS Our Mission Membership Outreach Programs Download Brochure Discover Del Norte Del Norte County Del Norte’s Economic History The Museum About the Museum Museum Collections Lighthouses Battery Point Lighthouse St. George Reef Lighthouse Tribes & Other Nations The Tolowa The Yurok The S.S. Brother Jonathan Tsunamis Bookstore Special Events Contact Us Select Page 0 events found. In between your visits to The Del Norte County Historical Society’s Main Museum and Battery Point Lighthouse, the region has scores of outdoor and indoor events and activities that will attract and hold the attention of our visitors’ many diverse interests. For a complete list of all special events, activities, amenities, and services for you to enjoy while in Del Norte County, visit the Del Norte Country Chamber of Commerce . We have three General Membership meetings per year with a potluck or barbecue and a program. Please keep your eye out for them here, in the Calendar of Events section of your member newsletter, Reflections of Del Norte County, and in the Community Events section of the Del Norte Triplicate. These meeting are for members only so if you would like to become a member, just go to the membership link and sign up!! There are no upcoming events. There are no upcoming events. Views Navigation Event Views Navigation List List Month Day Today Upcoming Upcoming Select date. Latest Past Events Jul 4 2019 July 4, 2019 @ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm 38th Annual Old Fashioned Ice Cream and Homemade Pie Social Del Norte County Historical Society 577 H Street, Crescent City This year will be our 38th Annual Old Fashioned Ice Cream and Homemade Pie Social. It will be held on the front lawn of the Main Museum at 577 H Street in Crescent City. There will be fruit pies in a variety of flavors served with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream and coffee […] Special Events Main Museum Lighthouse Museum Contact Del Norte County Historical Society 577 H Street Crescent City, CA. 95531 707-464-3922 Facebook Copyright Del Norte County Historical Society - All rights reserved | Site by Bicoastal Media in partnership with Land Design House | Admin The S.S. Brother Jonathan - Del Norte County Historical Society (707) 464-3922 [email protected] Facebook Message Click Here --> Facebook 0 Items Home About About DNCHS Our Mission Membership Outreach Programs Download Brochure Discover Del Norte Del Norte County Del Norte’s Economic History The Museum About the Museum Museum Collections Lighthouses Battery Point Lighthouse St. George Reef Lighthouse Tribes & Other Nations The Tolowa The Yurok The S.S. Brother Jonathan Tsunamis Bookstore Special Events Contact Us Select Page The S.S. Brother Jonathan The ill-fated Brother Jonathan was lost in stormy seas just off St. George Reef on July 30, 1865. The steam-driven side-paddle wheeler went down four miles off Point St. George, just north of Crescent City. With the loss of over 200 lives, the wreck of the Brother Jonathan remains the worst shipping disaster on the Pacific Coast. Only nineteen people survived. Allegedly carrying a substantial amount of gold, it became a treasure hunters target. Finally found in the early 1990’s, the wreck was salvaged. One $5 Liberty-head gold piece was given to the Museum. Other salvaged artifacts are housed in the Bolen Annex near the Fresnel lens. She was overloaded, carrying over 200 ordinary and extraordinary citizens, diverse military supplies and animals, heavy mining and railroad equipment, and an army payroll in newly-minted gold coin. Travelling routinely from San Francisco to Portland on a fateful day in mid summer, the paddle steamer S.S. Brother Jonathan was making no headway in gale-force winds while rounding the dangerous headland of Point St George on July 30, 1865; her Captain decided to come about, to return to Crescent City and wait for calmer weather. However, fate intervened: the overloaded ship impaled on one of the many jagged rocks in the Dragon Channel of St. George Reef, and sank in less than 30 minutes Only 19 people – 8 passengers and 11 crew in one lifeboat – survived to tell the horrible tale. As bodies washed ashore over the next weeks, local authorities identified them as best they could, notified whatever families available to claim the remains, and buried the rest in a local cemetery. Time has obscured the specifics of even that final resting place. Today the Brother Jonathan ‘cemetery’ on the ocean bluffs at the end of 9 th St. bears the name as a memorial only. Of the 28 headstones, only the one of the young family passengers Daniel & Polina Rowell and their four children, travelling from Iowa to a fresh start in Oregon, bears witness to the tragedy of Brother Jonathan Over 100 years later after the tragedy an independent company finally found the wrecked ship, and after a contentious legal battle salvaged many personal items as well as much of the gold bullion and coin. The Main Museum received a single $5 Liberty-head gold piece, other miscellaneous items, and a historic legacy to preserve. Visitors to the Museum can view the donated artifacts in the Bolen Annex, ironically near the first-order Fresnel lens from the St. George Reef Lighthouse, lit in 1891 to warn mariners away from the Dragon Rocks of St. George Reef. To this day, the wreck of the Brother Jonathan is still the worst maritime disaster on the U.S. mainland’s Pacific coast. Main Museum Lighthouse Museum Contact Del Norte County Historical Society 577 H Street Crescent City, CA. 95531 707-464-3922 Facebook Copyright Del Norte County Historical Society - All rights reserved | Site by Bicoastal Media in partnership with Land Design House | Admin Outreach Programs - Del Norte County Historical Society (707) 464-3922 [email protected] Facebook Message Click Here --> Facebook 0 Items Home About About DNCHS Our Mission Membership Outreach Programs Download Brochure Discover Del Norte Del Norte County Del Norte’s Economic History The Museum About the Museum Museum Collections Lighthouses Battery Point Lighthouse St. George Reef Lighthouse Tribes & Other Nations The Tolowa The Yurok The S.S. Brother Jonathan Tsunamis Bookstore Special Events Contact Us Select Page Outreach Programs The Del Norte County Historical Society offers educational programs in cooperation with the local school districts and other educational institutions. Special arrangements for tours of our Main Museum and Battery Point Lighthouse can be arranged with plenty of advance notice. The Society also is participating in a special grant that will assist teachers in utilizing the museums and archives of the Society for learning opportunities with their students. The Society also provides educational programs to members during their quarterly meetings, as well as special events held at the Main Museum and Battery Point Lighthouse during the year. For more information about upcoming educational programs or offerings, please contact the Society .     Main Museum Lighthouse Museum Contact Del Norte County Historical Society 577 H Street Crescent City, CA. 95531 707-464-3922 Facebook Copyright Del Norte County Historical Society - All rights reserved | Site by Bicoastal Media in partnership with Land Design House | Admin