Blue Lake Museum facts for kids
| Location | 330 Railroad Avenue Blue Lake, California |
|---|---|
| Type | History |
The Blue Lake Museum is a fascinating place in Blue Lake, California. It's located in an old train station, the former Arcata and Mad River Railroad depot. Here, you can discover amazing photos and items from Blue Lake's early days. Learn about the first settlers, local Native American tribes, the logging industry, and the history of railroads.
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Discover the Blue Lake Museum!
The Blue Lake Museum is a free museum open to everyone. It focuses on the history of railroading, logging, and daily life in the Mad River Valley. The museum shows off items from the exciting time when redwood logging was a huge industry.
A Look at the Collections
One special part of the museum is the Ruth Everding Libbey collection. This collection features beautiful Native American baskets. You can also explore the Korbel and Northern Redwood Lumber Company room. The museum also has many resources for anyone wanting to research local history.
The Museum Today
The Blue Lake Museum is run by local volunteers. It gets its funding from memberships, donations, and special events. The museum is usually open from April through September. You can also visit by making an appointment during the winter months.
The Story of the Arcata & Mad River Railroad
The Arcata & Mad River Railroad was started in 1883 by three brothers: Francis, Anton, and Joseph Korbel. Their goal was to extend an existing train line. This new line would go through Blue Lake to their lumber mill.
Why the Railroad Was Important
This railroad helped carry huge amounts of redwood lumber. It could transport 425,000 board-feet of wood per trip! This wood was sent to markets in San Francisco and southern California. The railroad also offered daily freight and passenger service to Arcata. This connected Blue Lake to the rest of the world. Many people believe the railroad was key to Blue Lake's early success.
A Historic Landmark
The Arcata & Mad River Railroad is so important that it's a California State Historic Landmark. The building where the Blue Lake Museum is now located was once a busy train depot for this railroad. It even served as the town's post office!
