Clarke Historical Museum
Encyclopedia
The Clarke Historical Museum (formerly the Clarke Memorial Museum) in Eureka, California
contains the area's premier collection of far California North Coast
regional and cultural history, with significant focus on the 19th Century Victorian era. The facility has an entire Native American wing, which features an extensive internationally recognized collection of basketry, regalia, stoneware, implements, and other objects indicative of the culture and creativity of local and regional Native American groups.
The museum is housed in the former Bank of Eureka & Savings Bank of Humboldt Building (1911) in Old Town Eureka
, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. The bank building is a Classical Revival or Neoclassical
structure, notable for its elevations, which are covered in glazed architectural terra-cotta
over brick. It is the most significant structure covered in this material north of San Francisco. Quoined
pavilions
flank the recessed portico
supported by ionic columns
and an extensive balustraded
parapet
appears above the cornice
.
Eureka, California
Eureka is the principal city and the county seat of Humboldt County, California, United States. Its population was 27,191 at the 2010 census, up from 26,128 at the 2000 census....
contains the area's premier collection of far California North Coast
North Coast, California
The North Coast of California is a region which commonly includes Marin, Sonoma, Mendocino, Humboldt, and Del Norte counties...
regional and cultural history, with significant focus on the 19th Century Victorian era. The facility has an entire Native American wing, which features an extensive internationally recognized collection of basketry, regalia, stoneware, implements, and other objects indicative of the culture and creativity of local and regional Native American groups.
The museum is housed in the former Bank of Eureka & Savings Bank of Humboldt Building (1911) in Old Town Eureka
Old Town Eureka
Old Town Eureka in Eureka, California, is listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. This Historic district is a area containing 154 buildings mostly from the Victorian era...
, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The bank building is a Classical Revival or Neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
structure, notable for its elevations, which are covered in glazed architectural terra-cotta
Glazed architectural terra-cotta
Glazed architectural terra-cotta is a ceramic masonry building material popular in the United States from the late 19th century until the 1930s, and still one of the most common building materials found in U.S. urban environments...
over brick. It is the most significant structure covered in this material north of San Francisco. Quoined
Quoin (architecture)
Quoins are the cornerstones of brick or stone walls. Quoins may be either structural or decorative. Architects and builders use quoins to give the impression of strength and firmness to the outline of a building...
pavilions
Pavilion (structure)
In architecture a pavilion has two main meanings.-Free-standing structure:Pavilion may refer to a free-standing structure sited a short distance from a main residence, whose architecture makes it an object of pleasure. Large or small, there is usually a connection with relaxation and pleasure in...
flank the recessed portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
supported by ionic columns
Ionic order
The Ionic order forms one of the three orders or organizational systems of classical architecture, the other two canonic orders being the Doric and the Corinthian...
and an extensive balustraded
Baluster
A baluster is a moulded shaft, square or of lathe-turned form, one of various forms of spindle in woodwork, made of stone or wood and sometimes of metal, standing on a unifying footing, and supporting the coping of a parapet or the handrail of a staircase. Multiplied in this way, they form a...
parapet
Parapet
A parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a...
appears above the cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
.