Pythian Castle

Pythian Castle is a Victorian commercial building in Arcata featuring five distinctive towers, including two square towers facing the street and three round towers positioned at street corners. The structure displays Queen Anne style characteristics with ornate details throughout its exterior design.

The building was constructed between 1884 and 1885 by a local lodge of a fraternal organization and designed by architect A.P. Glidden. Despite later modifications, the structure has retained its Victorian form.

The building served as a gathering place for a fraternal organization dedicated to mutual aid and community service. Members assembled here for their meetings and strengthened their bonds with one another.

The building sits on H Street in Arcata and is easy to locate thanks to its distinctive towers that stand out from surrounding structures. Visitors can view the ornamental details from the exterior and appreciate the different tower shapes from various angles.

The towers are topped with patterned roof shingles and tall finials sitting beneath cone-shaped, hat-like roof covers. This decorative flourish gives the building a storybook quality that sets it apart from typical commercial structures of its era.

Location: California

Architectural style: Queen Anne style architecture in the United States

GPS coordinates: 40.87111,-124.08500

Latest update: December 12, 2025 16:41