Bank of Eureka Building
Also known as: Clarke Memorial Museum
Why it's listed
Located at the northwest corner of Third and E Streets in Eureka, this one-story bank building was constructed in 1911-12 for the Bank of Eureka and Savings Bank of Humboldt County. Albert Pissis, a San Francisco architect trained at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, designed it, and the W. C. Concannon Company built it for about $62,983. Steel girders and trusses support concrete floors and roof, and the permit made it the first Class A fireproof building in northwestern California. Glazed terra cotta rusticated to resemble stone clads the facade, which features four Ionic columns, three arched windows and a balustraded cornice. A large skylight with stained glass panels dominates the interior. The bank occupied the building until the late 1950s, and it became the Clarke Museum in 1960. A 1978 brick addition was set back from the sidewalk. The building is recognized as Eureka's finest Renaissance Revival work and as a major institution in the city's commercial life.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the finest example of Renaissance Revival architecture in Eureka, designed by noted San Francisco architect Albert Pissis. It was the first Class A fireproof building in northwestern California and held that distinction for over 47 years. It also housed Eureka's major banking institution, which played an important role in the city's economic life.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82002180, listed April 12, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 240 E St., Eureka |
|---|---|
| County | Humboldt County |
| Listed | April 12, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002180 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1911-1912 |
| Architect / builder | Albert Pissis (architect); W. C. Concannon Company of San Francisco (builder) |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival (Roman-Renaissance Revival) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in excellent condition; converted to museum use in 1960, with a red brick addition built in 1978 along the north side. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Eureka Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.80356, -124.16757 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82002180.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5127488
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.