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Free Traveling Guides » States » California » Northern California
Scotia
Scotia is a historical logging town and is one of the last company-owned towns in America. It is located south of Eureka on Highway 101 in Humboldt County. This town is reminiscent of the old towns, with its picture-perfect homes necklaced with white picket fences.
Scotia started out as a logging camp in 1883 and it soon became Pacific Lumber Co’s (PALCO) headquarters. In fact, the company’s old headquarters, which is 90-years old, is still being used.
Scotia was earlier called Forestville, and today 250 families working for PALCO call is home. Some of the families living in Scotia have been working for PALCO for generations.
A stop at the Scotia Museum is a must when you visit the picturesque town. There is a wide variety of historical artifacts, photographs, and three-dimensional displays which allow the visitors to see how the lumber industry in Scotia has changed and developed over a century. There is also a 60-foot band saw blade on display. Once upon a time this blade was used in a PALCO sawmill.
Scotia also offers a visit to its working lumber mills. PALCO regularly conducts tours through its plants, and it is quite fascinating to see how an entire tree goes through different stages of production to become a finished product.
Scotia’s most famous landmark is the Winema Theater. It was built in 1920 and after years of neglect, the theater was renovated by PALCO. The theater now has an upgraded sound system, state-of-the-art projection equipment, a movie screen, new stage curtains and new seats.
If you are planning a visit to Redwood National Park, you will have to pass through Scotia. It is well worth a visit to absorb the flavor of an old town.
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