Tuluwat Island facts for kids
|
Gunther Island Site 67
|
|
National Register of Historic Places marker on Woodley Island in foreground, Tuluwat Island on other side of channel.
|
|
 Location in California
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Address restricted |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Eureka, California |
| Area | 280 acres (1,100,000 m2) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000208 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | July 19, 1964 |
Tuluwat Island is a special place in Humboldt Bay near Eureka, California. It used to be called Indian Island or Gunther Island. This island was once home to the village of Tolowot or Tuluwat, where the Wiyot Massacre of 1860 happened. Today, a large part of the island is recognized as a National Historic Landmark because of its important history. Since October 21, 2019, the Wiyot people have owned most of the island again, which is a big step for their community.
Contents
Island Geography: What is Tuluwat Island Like?
Tuluwat Island is the biggest of three islands in Humboldt Bay. It sits between the Samoa and Eureka Channels. Most of the island is made of tidal marsh, which is a wet, grassy area that floods with the tides.
Over many years, people living on the island changed its shape. The Wiyot people would often place leftover shells from their fishing in the same spots. This created large piles of shells, called middens. These shell piles made parts of the island taller over time.
Today, the island is about 280 acres (1.1 square kilometers) in size. A road called California State Route 255 crosses the island. About 40 acres (0.16 square kilometers) are on one side of the road, and the rest is on the other.
Island History: A Look Back in Time
Early History: The Wiyot People and Their Village
The Wiyot people lived in the village of Tolowot on Tuluwat Island for a very long time. Their way of life, including the shell mounding, actually changed the island's land. The shell piles grew so tall that you could see the island from miles away!
In 1918, a researcher named Llewellyn Lemont Loud studied the island. He found old tools and items that showed people had lived there since about 900 CE. The items he found helped scientists understand a style of Native American tools and items called the Gunther Pattern. This pattern helps us learn about ancient migrations in California.
The 1860 Massacre: A Sad Day
On February 26, 1860, a terrible event happened on Tuluwat Island. About one hundred Wiyot people, mostly women and children, were killed. This happened during a special Wiyot ceremony called a World Renewal Ceremony. The attack was carried out by European settlers who had moved to the area. Very few people survived that day.
European Settlement: New Owners and Changes
After the massacre, in 1860, a man named Robert Gunther bought the island. He gave it the name "Gunther Island." He built dikes to control the water and raised dairy cows there for almost 40 years.
Later, in the 1870s, a place to fix ships was built on the island. This shipyard worked for over 100 years, finally closing in the 1980s.
Modern Era: Healing and Return of Land
In 1971, a series of bridges, known as the Samoa Bridge, were built. These bridges connect the city of Eureka to the nearby peninsula. Two of these bridges have their foundations on Tuluwat Island.
Every year since 1992, the Wiyot people and their supporters gather on the island. They meet on the last Saturday in February to remember those who were lost in the 1860 massacre. This gathering helps the community heal and grow stronger. More and more people join this vigil each year.
A very important event happened in June 2004. The city of Eureka, California gave back 67 acres (0.27 square kilometers) of land to the Wiyot people. This was a big step towards the Wiyot's dream of holding their World Renewal ceremony on the island again.
The city of Eureka and the Wiyot Tribe are also working together to protect the island from erosion. They also need to clean up pollution from the old shipyard. This cleanup is important before a new Wiyot dance facility can be built.
On December 5, 2018, the Eureka City Council voted to return the rest of the land to the Wiyot people. Then, on October 21, 2019, the city officially gave all its land on the island to the Wiyot people. This means the Wiyot Tribe now owns most of Tuluwat Island. This return of land is believed to be the first time a U.S. city has given land back to an Indigenous community without any special conditions.
Images for kids
-
National Register of Historic Places marker on Woodley Island in foreground, Tuluwat Island on other side of channel.
