Ferndale

Ferndale is a village on the northern California coast in Humboldt County, where Victorian buildings line a main street. The homes display wooden porches, tall windows, and painted facades among green pastures in the Eel River Valley.

Settlers arrived in the region in 1852 and founded the village among fern fields that they cleared for pastureland. The community grew through dairy farming and became officially recognized as a city in 1893.

Residents maintain the wooden facades and decorative details of their Victorian homes through regular care and upkeep. Main Street feels like a working 19th-century stage set, with shops and cafés operating inside historical spaces.

The village sits about 16 miles (26 kilometers) south of Eureka and is reached via a winding country road through pastureland. Most shops and buildings are located along the main street, which can be explored on foot during a weekend visit.

An annual event brings moving sculptures on human-powered vehicles together for a multi-day race along the coast. The tradition began in 1969 when a local artist challenged his neighbors to design and ride elaborate machines.

Location: Humboldt County

Inception: August 28, 1893

Website: http://ci.ferndale.ca.us

GPS coordinates: 40.57667,-124.26333

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:07