Points of Historical Interest
by Lucy Kortum

Marin County

Marin County Map
Coastal Conservancy Projects in Marin County
Sources

• Marin: One of original 1950 counties; various sources for name all related to the Spanish word for sea and sailor.

• Estero Americano: Fjord-like feature forms the border between Sonoma and Marin counties.

• Estero de San Antonio: Drowned valley of Stemple Creek.

• Dillon Beach: George Dillon's ranch dates from 1859; now tourist community almost adjacent to Lawson's Landing, boat access to northern end of Tomales Bay.

• Tomales Bay: Drowned valley of Olema Creek along San Andreas Fault line, mistaken by 1603 Vizcaino and 1793 Juan Matute explorations as a major river. Possible source of name is "tamal," Coast Miwok word for Bay; adjacent area contained many settlements identified by historic middens or shell piles.

• Point Reyes: Unique geological history, with Point Reyes west of the Tomales Bay fault line being part of the Pacific plate and characterized by granitic rock, while the land east of Tomales Bay is part of the North American continental plate. Point Reyes is very slowly drifting northward; significant historic movement occurred in 1906. Point Reyes National Seashore, established in 1962, and Philip Burton Wilderness Area preserve almost the whole peninsula but many historic dairies and ranches continue with lease agreements.

• Pierce Ranch: One of 19th century Point Reyes dairies with many original buildings restored and interpreted.

• Marshall Beach: Across bay from Marshall, town named for 1860's Marshall brothers ranchers, became early port for ocean-going schooners and rail to exchange products.

• (Nearby) Point Reyes Lighthouse: Built 1870 after numerous shipwrecks, the earliest known a Spanish galleon in 1595; now automated but original Fresnel lens remains; open to the public.

• (Nearby) Drakes Estero/Five Finger Bay: Thought by some historians to have been landing place of Sir Francis Drake in 1579.

• Point Reyes Hostel: Occupies a former ranch house, and nearby Clem Miller Education Center honors the late congressman whose legislation established the National Seashore.

• Bolinas: An early source of lumber for gold rush San Francisco; because of shallow Bolinas Lagoon, flat bottomed lighters used to transfer lumber to offshore ships. Later a summer resort, with numbers of 19th century buildings.

• Seadrift: Controversial subdivision on sand spit with continuing battle over definition of public beach.

• Stinson Beach: Promoted as a resort for camping and swimming by Alfred Easkoot whose 1875 restored house still stands, and more aggressively by Nathan Stinson in 1906.

• Dipsea Trail: Route of historic annual marathon run over Mt. Tamalpais.

• Mt. Tamalpais State Park: Tamalpais a major visual landmark of the Bay Area appeared as Table Mountain on early maps. An early steam railway from Mill Valley across Mt. Tam was intended to continue to Stinson Beach.

• Tennessee Cove: Side-wheel steamer Tennessee ran aground here in 1853 having missed the Golden Gate in the fog. All lives were saved, the ship broke up, the engine remains buried in the sand.

• Golden Gate National Recreation Area: Created in 1970 and extending from Tomales Bay to Sweeney Ridge in San Mateo County, links many county, state, and local jurisdictions, parks and military installations; here includes historic forts and gun emplacements.

• Marin Headlands Visitors Center: Historic and environmental interpretation.

• Golden Gate Hostel: Former military officers' headquarters.

• (Nearby) Point Bonita Lighthouse: 1877 lighthouse replaced 1855 version; automated in 1980; open to the public.

• Golden Gate: Missed by most early explorers due to fog or by staying at sea to avoid rocky islands, San Francisco Bay was first seen by Europeans when Jose Ortega came overland from the Portola expedition in 1769. Fremont gave it its name in an 1848 report to Congress.