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Location
Visitor tip
Don't miss the centerpiece 1st order Fresnel lens from St. George Reef lighthouse—it's the museum's crown jewel and worth the visit alone. Multiple reviews specifically highlight this intricate, large-scale lens as a must-see display.
Visitor tip
Contact the museum ahead of time at 707-464-3922 or [email protected] if you have specific research interests or want to schedule time with knowledgeable volunteers. Staff are noted as friendly and full of stories about local history, especially shipwreck and maritime artifacts.
About Del Norte County Historical Society
Museum focusing on local history. Museum of the Del Norte County Historical Society with many items related to local history.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Natural History Museum
- Locations
- Main Museum (6th & H Street) and Battery Point Lighthouse (Crescent City)
- Key Collections
- Tolowa and Yurok basketry, maritime history, lighthouse artifacts
- Membership
- Yes — includes free admission, discounts, quarterly newsletter
- Founded
- 1951
What visitors say
There is an overwhelming amount of historical artifacts and information available here. Most is directly related to Del Norte County, although some seems to just be old stuff that was offered and accepted. I spent a couple hours, and…
It's hard to describe and a true treasure. I could spend a week exploring it. Not a 5 star because there is some very disturbing history presented without much context or awareness. It's a lot and I can only imagine the impact on a…
Local home-town museum. Lots to look at. Probably too much! Some displays are really well-done (especially the fresnel lens). Others are somewhat hodgepodge, but that's typical of a home-town museum. They even use the space in jail…
From 139 Google reviews Read all reviews
Did You Know?
- The museum houses a 1st order Fresnel lens from the St. George Reef lighthouse, which serves as the centerpiece attraction and is noted by multiple visitors as worth visiting solely to see its massive size and intricate design
- The museum is housed in a former jail building, with jail cells repurposed as display spaces for historical artifacts and exhibits
- Primary exhibits include artifacts and documentation from the 1964 Crescent City tsunami, one of the most significant natural disasters in California's coastal history
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