The Avenue of the Giants: History Along the Redwood Highway

Wed., June 24, 12-1 p.m.

Location: In person: Eureka

Cost: FREE to OLLI members

With Jerry Rohde, Place Ranger

When the Redwood Highway was built through southern Humboldt County a little more than a century ago, it transformed travel for both locals and tourists. Instead of a winding, one-lane wagon road, travelers could now speed along a highway of two-lane pavement that ran past grove after grove of old-growth redwoods. We'll look at the forest that bordered the highway and the tiny towns that stood beside it, like Pepperwood, Dyerville, and Myers Flat. Join us for a trip both scenic and historic.

This lecture is part of the June lecture series taking place at the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center. It is free to OLLI members.

This class takes place on the second floor of the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center. There is an elevator in the building, as well as handicap parking in front of the building.

Register by 12 p.m., June 21.

Jerry Rohde

Jerry Rohde has taught at Cal Poly OLLI since its beginning in 2005, and since then has offered over 100 classes in three subject areas: Humboldt County history, local ethnogeography, and early 20th century California art. 

For 15 years he was a research associate at Cal Poly's Cultural Resources Facility, and has consulted with various state and local agencies, several Indian tribes, and local archaeologists. He has written five volumes in the series, History of Humboldt Peoples and Places. His History of Southern Humboldt County is expected to be soon published by the Cal Poly Humboldt Press.