Morris Graves Museum of Art — Attraction in Eureka

The Morris Graves Museum of Art is one of Eureka’s cultural treasures and a place that truly feels like the heart of the local art scene. From the moment you step up to the building, you can tell you are about to experience something special. The museum is housed in the beautifully restored historic Carnegie Library, and the architecture itself sets the tone with its elegant, classical style. It feels both historic and alive with creativity.

Inside, the museum offers a wonderful variety of experiences. There are seven galleries with rotating exhibits that highlight both local talent and artists from across the Pacific Northwest, alongside works by Morris Graves himself, one of the most influential artists to come from this region. His art, often focused on nature and mysticism, feels perfectly at home here on the North Coast, surrounded by forests, ocean, and wild landscapes. Each visit brings something different because of the rotating shows, so there is always something new to discover.

Beyond the galleries, the museum is also a community hub. The central rotunda hosts concerts, poetry readings, and performances that bring the space to life in a way that goes far beyond what most small-town art museums offer. There is also a sculpture garden and classrooms for art education, showing that this space is as much about nurturing the next generation of artists as it is about celebrating established ones.

The museum is welcoming and accessible, with affordable admission and even free entry on the first Saturday of every month. The staff and volunteers are warm and knowledgeable, adding to the sense that this is not just a museum but a gathering place for the community. Whether you are an art lover, a history buff, or just someone who wants to spend a quiet afternoon surrounded by creativity, the Morris Graves Museum is an inspiring place to be.

What stands out most is how much it reflects the spirit of Eureka and Humboldt County itself. It blends history, creativity, and community in a way that feels deeply rooted in place. Visiting here is a chance to connect with the artistic soul of the region, and it is absolutely worth the time for anyone living in or traveling through the...

Museum was in a 100 year old Carnegie Library building beautifully kept. Wonderful exhibits of local area artists several of whom are nationally and internationally acclaimed. The exhibit of masks done by local elementary children was amazing. So nice the staff at the museum does these things with the children and the community. The gift shop was one of the best we have seen in the many museums we visited across the country. It was filled with unique items many sources from local artist and many also sources from artists in Nepal. Much of the sales from those went back to those artists. The gentleman who bought the gift shop products did a fantastic job. Everything was reasonably priced and made choosing something for a gift a difficult choice. Admission to the museum was $5 and $2 for seniors. Well worth the hour we spent here. Great...

Morris Graves is located in the restored Carnegie library building in Eureka, California and is a majestic building. The second-floor balcony is a rotunda, the walls of which hold works of current and local painters. It is named for a local artist who died on May 5, 2001 at his 380 acre lake home in Loleta,CA, a few miles South of Eureka. The building contains a small collection of Graves' many works and much of a personal collection of his collegues' paintings. Eureka is the hub of multiple beautiful surrounding locations and the show place of many artists. The works are changed regularly and the basement gift shop has many treats. Come on the first Saturday of every month for special shows of music, photography, painting, and sculpture that run from Morris Graves...