Helena, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Helena, California
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 Helena, California
Location in California
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Trinity |
| Elevation | 1,391 ft (424 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| Area code(s) | 530 |
| GNIS feature ID | 261237 |
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Helena Historic District
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| Location | California |
| Nearest city | Junction City, California |
| Architectural style | Various; Southwestern U.S. frontier-style, late-19th to early-20th century. |
| NRHP reference No. | 84001219 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | May 24, 1984 |
| Designated | May 24, 1984 |
Helena is a ghost town in unincorporated Trinity County, California, United States. A ghost town is a place where people used to live and work, but now almost no one lives there anymore. Helena is located near the North Fork of the Trinity River. You can find it about 10 miles (16 km) west-northwest of Weaverville. State Route 299 passes close by, and East Fork Road connects to Helena.
Contents
History of Helena
Helena started as a mining camp in 1851. It was built on the site of an old Chimariko village. In its early days, the community had a few different names. People called it Bagdad, North Fork, and The Cove.
How Helena Got Its Name
The town got its official name, Helena, in 1891. This happened when a post office opened there. The postmaster, Mr. Meckel, named it after his wife, Helena. This helped avoid confusion with another town in California also called North Fork.
Early Businesses and Growth
Two brothers, John and Christian Meckel, moved to the area. They built a home on their mining claims. In 1854, the Meckel brothers opened a general store. Later, they also opened a hotel. The town was often called "Baghdad" by locals. This nickname came from the idea that the town was as lively and unusual as the ancient city of Baghdad. In 1859, the Meckel brothers also built and ran a brewery in Helena.
Connecting to the Coast
Over time, roads were built to connect Helena to other places. In 1923, the last part of the road from Helena to South Fork was finished. This road connected the town all the way to the California coast.
The Town's Decline
Helena's main purpose was gold mining. When the gold started to run out, the town began to shrink. There were small increases in activity during the Great Depression. However, when State Route 299 was completed in 1931, it bypassed Helena. This meant people no longer needed to pass through the town. The town became less important. In 1966, a businessman named F. I. DiNapoli bought the entire town for $50,000.
Helena Becomes a Historic Place
In 1984, Helena was recognized for its history. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is considered an important historical site in the United States.
Helena Today
Today, Helena is mostly abandoned. It is owned by the trustee of a businessman who has passed away. Some old buildings still stand in Helena. These include the Currie Cottage from 1859 and the Meckel Store from 1858. You can also see the Shlomer Brick Building and the Shlomer Feed Stable, both built in 1859 and 1860. The Meckel Barn from 1860 and a rental building from the 1930s are also still there.
