Exhibition: Traditional Tastes

Step back in time and discover the deep history of seaweed gathering, smelt fishing, and eeling in Humboldt Bay at the Clarke Historical Museum!

Did you know that Wiyot and Yurok peoples have been fishing smelt along the Northern California coast for over 1,300 years? Using A-frame nets and dip nets, these expert fishers gathered smelt—also known as Candlefish—and dried them in the warm sand, a time-honored tradition passed through generations.
Meanwhile, eeling at night along the Mad River was a skill requiring patience, precision, and beautifully crafted eel hooks. Once caught, these prized fish were filleted, smoked, and enjoyed for their rich taste and nutritional value.
Explore the tools, techniques, and cultural significance of these fishing traditions at our “Traditional Tastes” exhibit!

Now on display at the Clarke Historical Museum. Come experience the heritage of Humboldt Bay’s Indigenous foodways—because history is more than stories, it’s the flavors, the traditions, and the connection to the land.