Before the Samoa Bridge was built in 1971, the motor vessel Madaket served as a ferry launch taking mill workers to various mills along the shoreline of Humboldt Bay. When the bridge put Madaket and several other vessels out of service, Madaket was given a new lease on life as the Humboldt Bay Harbor Cruise flag boat.

Along with her sister ships, Madaket not only carried passengers but also barged lumber, ties, shingles and log rafts to awaiting ships and mills. As the years passed a variety of passengers from families, mill workers and early day sightseers were transported throughout the bay to as many as ten landings. These vessels operated seven days a week, 24 hours a day, plying the waters with no fewer than 1,200 to 1,500 people a day.

Madaket, built on the shore of Humboldt Bay and launched onto its placid waters on June 6, 1910, just celebrated her 90th birthday. To her credit, Madaket is the oldest passenger carrying vessel in continuous operation in the United States. She is the last of the Humboldt Bay ferry boats, has never been over the Humboldt bar, is a state historic vessel and has on board the smallest licensed bar in the state of California.

Since Madaket began her renewed life on Humboldt Bay as a harbor cruise boat, she has become the waterborne ambassador and educator of the bay's history. To this day, she ushers visiting ships into the bay, leads  boat parades, educates our local school groups about area history and shares her uniqueness with many visitors.

Now owned and cared for by the Humboldt Bay Maritime Museum, Madaket still plies the waters of Humboldt Bay taking passengers on 75-minute narrated cruises, cocktail cruises and Sunday brunch cruises.

To learn more about the Madaket, visit the Humboldt Bay Maritime Museum, 423 First St., or catch a ride aboard Madaket from the foot of C Street, both in Eureka. Madaket ticket office can be reached at 707-445-1910.