Introducing Arcata
On a hill overlooking Humboldt Bay, Arcata was founded in 1850 by the Union Timber Company. Originally called Union Town, it was a base for nearby lumber camps. In the late 1850s when Bret Harte worked here as a journalist, the town became the setting for some of his Gold Rush-era stories. Today, Humboldt State University (HSU) has redefined Arcata as a college town.
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The aesthetic is decidedly scruffy, and posses of fun-loving carousing students roam downtown on weekend evenings. On the plaza keep your distance from the ragtag junkie punks. Arcata prides itself on its go-it-alone far-left politics. Indeed, the City Council passed an ordinance in April 2003, not only condemning the USA Patriot Act, but outlawing voluntary compliance with it. If you like to argue politics, you’re gonna love it here.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
Thorn Tree forum discussion
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So sorry- but Tr@vel Q:
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Flash and I are going to take a road trip in May through California. There are two longer legs of the trip that I'm hoping for input on:…
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Is there a trail still existent? Any authentic places across the world where one can relive the 60's? Is Route 66 alive?
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