At the turn of the 19th century, early settlers to the Humboldt county region saw a wealth of redwood timber in the native forests. They found that redwood was unique not only because it was beautiful, but because it was much less susceptible to rot, insects, and fire than other woods. Before long, a thriving lumber trade developed.
Humboldt County became home to many beautiful, elaborate Victorian mansions built with redwood lumber. They are still standing strong today as a testament to the durability of redwood. These mansions continue to draw many tourists to the picturesque Humboldt county region.
One of the most famous of these is the Carson Mansion in Eureka, California. This elaborate, Queen Anne Victorian mansion was built by lumber baron William Carson in 1886. The Carson Mansion has been described by a well-known architectural historian as “a baronial castle in redwood”. Because this property has been meticulously maintained by the Carson family, it stands today in essentially the same condition in which it was built: strong, grand and beautiful.
Today, old growth redwood trees are protected by law, and Humboldt Redwood lumber is grown and harvested entirely from sustainable forests, according to the strict standards of the Forest Stewardship Council.
What was discovered in the 19th century remains so to this day: redwood truly is a superior building material, meant to stand the test of time.
Read about the many advantages of using Humboldt Redwood for all your building needs at our Why Redwood page.