Fortuna in Humboldt County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Gushaw-Mudgett House
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, November 8, 2026
1. Gushaw-Mudgett House Marker
Gushaw-Mudgett House
circa 1884
commonly known as the Mudgett house
It was built the mid 1880's, when Italianate architecture was popular in Humboldt County. Eastlake detail is also evident. The main portion of the house was originally painted. The windows outlined in black paint. The porch posts, brackets and balustrades were shellacked. The house was later painted white with green window trim.
The land on which the house stands was part of a large holding purchased by George Francis Gushaw from John Skinner in 1870. Grushaw, a native of Pennsylvania, was among the early wave of Argonauts who crossed the plains from the mid-west to California in 1849. Returning to Ohio in 1853, he married Rachel T. Watkins who then accompanied him back to California; eventually they settled along the Eel River at what was known as Slide, later to become Springville and in 1889, Fortuna. The Gushaws had two sons and five daughters, one of whom Eda, married Decatur Mudgett, a native of Maine who arrived in Humboldt County in 1875.
Following Gushaw's death in 1894, his widow sold the house to her daughter Eda Mudgett.
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1884.
Location. 40° 35.957′ N, 124° 9.461′ W. Marker is in Fortuna, California, in Humboldt County. It is at the intersection of 9th Street and O Street, on the right when traveling south on 9th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 820 9th Street, Fortuna CA 95540, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the North Coast, specifically on the Coast Ranges, and in the Klamath Mountains. It is also on the American Pacific Coast and in the Pacific Northwest. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, on the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexico’s Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, November 8, 2026
2. Gushaw-Mudgett House and marker
The marker is visible here set amongst the shrubbery on the right.
Also see . . . NRHP Nomination Form. Significance:
The Gushaw-Mudgett House is nominated to the National Register of Historic Places as a locally-significant example of Italianate architecture with Eastlake detail. Its low hipped roofline, bracketed frieze, and decorated stacked bays are typical of the stately Italianate houses built in this area during the 1880s. The Eastlake porch provides additional "gingerbread" touches to this handsome architecture. Surviving almost one hundred years without intruding alteration, the house is important to Fortuna's architectural and historical heritage(Submitted on November 9, 2026.)and a valuable component of the community's character.Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, November 8, 20263. Gushaw-Mudgett House - side view
Architecture and assessment records indicate c. 1884 as a reasonable construction date for the Gushaw House. It was at this time that a prosperous lumber industry prompted construction of many fine Humboldt Bay Victorians. The year 1884 also marked the expansion of the railroad into the Eel River Valley providing the impetus for Springville to take its position ahead of Rohnerville as the leading town in the Valley.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 9, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 9, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
