Near Loleta in Humboldt County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

History of the McBride Ranch

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 10, 2019

1. History of the McBride Ranch Marker

Captions: (lower right) This barn was built in the 1920s. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service purchased the McBride Ranch (founded by the Russes) in 1988 to create the Salmon Creek Unit. tripling the size of the refuge. Since acquiring the property, the refuge has worked to restore what was mostly pastureland to a diverse mosaic of habitats for the fish and wildlife of Humboldt Bay.; (lower left) The Norton Ranch in Blue Lake, California, was a typical ranch for this area.

Inscription. Hard work and perseverance created a family business that lasted generations
In 1850, Joseph and Zipporah Russ moved to Humboldt County from Maine to start a cattle and sheep ranch. The main buildings were built between 1915 and 1925 and included a barn, bunkhouse, cookhouse, calf house, and shop.
To create grazing and for the hundreds of cattle and sheep, the Russ family built the first dikes in the early 1900s. The main perimeter dike was built with a dredge, but many of the inside dikes were built by hand. Jupiter, the family's last dredge, was built by Stockton Ironworks in 1926.

Erected by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and National Wildlife Refuge System.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Agriculture.

Location. 40° 41.182′ N, 124° 12.434′ W. Marker is near Loleta, California, in Humboldt County. Marker can be reached from Eel River Drive near Hookton Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Loleta CA 95551, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Early Agricultural Use of the Bottomlands (a few steps from this marker); Historic Hunting on the, Refuge and Humboldt Bay (a few steps from this marker); Fields Landing Hotel

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(approx. 2.7 miles away); Bank of Loleta (approx. 3.3 miles away); Harold G Larsen (approx. 4.1 miles away); Humboldt Harbor Historical District (approx. 4.1 miles away); Fernbridge (approx. 4.9 miles away); Fort Humboldt (approx. 6.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Loleta.

More about this marker. The McBride Ranch is located near the Humboldt Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 10, 2019

2. History of the McBride Ranch Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 14, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 14, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 463 times since then and 63 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 14, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.