The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Headwaters Forest Reserve is now home to a newly designated historic site. A townsite and lumber mill, with origins dating back to 1884, have been nominated for the National Register of Historic Places by California’s historic preservation officer last October.

According to a Jan. 9 news release from the BLM, the Falk Archaeological District has been recognized as an area of national significance, meriting preservation. The district was an active logging and mill town from 1884 to 1937, complete with a railroad leading to the mill and a port in Eureka that dispatched lumber globally. However, due to safety concerns, the property's buildings were demolished in the 1960s.

After a span of 14 years spent investigating by Cal Poly Humboldt (formerly Humboldt State University), there was sufficient information for the National Park Service to approve its listing on the National Register of Historic Places. "Credit also goes to our staff and Friends of Headwaters who have found creative ways to explain the history of Falk through interpretation and restoration. Signs highlighting town remnants make it possible for visitors to visualize life in Falk," said Collin Ewing, manager of the BLM Arcata Field Office overseeing the Reserve.

When a property is nominated for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, it originates from the State Historic Preservation Office (in this case, California). The site may be listed only within the state or may require additional information. Once satisfied, this office forwards documentation to the National Register for further review. The process includes specific criteria that a property must meet concerning age and integrity, significant events or persons associated with it, and architectural or archaeological value. Prior to commencing its process, there is a notification procedure involving property owners, public entities, and local governments that lasts at least three months. The National Park Service (NPS), which oversees the National Register will make a decision within 45 days of receiving the documentation, according to the NPS.

In October 2023, the Falk Archaeological District was listed in the Federal Register as a pending nomination for the National Register for Historic Places.