A cornerstone of the Humboldt Bay Maritime Museums collection is its excursion boat, the MV Madaket. The 1910 ferry was originally built on Humboldt Bay with 6 other similar boats designed to transport Eureka's mill workers to and from lumber operations across Humboldt Bay. Originally christened the "Nellie C" after a member of the Cousins family which built her, she served as a ferry boat from Table Bluff, Fields Landing, Eureka, Samoa and Arcata until 1972 when she was the last to be put out of daily use due to construction of the Samoa Bridge which made the commute faster by car. Now rebuilt and also the oldest operating passenger vessel in the nation still providing passenger service, she provides visitors the opportunity to see Eureka and the port from her decks, while experiencing a narrative of the history of the port and city and the founding and fortune of both and visiting her aboard tavern, the smallest licensed bar in California. Cruises Depart seasonally every year from Mid-May to the first weeks of October. Private Charters for school groups, birthday parties, weddings, business events and get together are available in the am and pm hours during her cruise season. 75-minute narrated cruises 18.00 adults, 16.00 Sr/Jr/Student, 10.00 child Cocktail Cruise 10.00 per person, all ages
