Stinson Beach Historical Society: Virtual Exhibits

Art & Artists
The beauty of this area has attracted many artists. In this category we include not only visional artists but poets, writers and their publications.... View Exhibit Page
Beach (on Bolinas Bay)
These photographs of Stinson Beach have been selected from our extensive collection. We have over 120 photographs on file under this subject.... View Exhibit Page
Bolinas Bay and Bolinas Lagoon
... View Exhibit Page
Bolinas Peninsula
Our neighboring town of Bolinas is situated on the Bolinas Peninsula which forms the northern end of the Bolinas Bay.... View Exhibit Page
Camps and Camping
Stinson Beach evolved from a series of tent villages: Easkoot Beach (1871), Willow Camp (1880s), and Camp Upton (1905). The area was known as Willow Camp until 1916 when it was officially renamed Stinson Beach.... View Exhibit Page
Coastline South of Stinson Beach
... View Exhibit Page
Dipsea Race
In 1905 the first Dipsea Race was run with 90 finishers. It was initiated by group of hikers called the Dipsea Indians from the San Francisco Olympic Club. This is America's second oldest race. It was run over the beaten path of Lone Tree Trail, now... View Exhibit Page
Disasters - Storms and Floods
Stinson Beach has been subjected to memorable storms followed by devastating floods every 20 and 30 years. Storms of 1956, 1978 and 1982-83 are ones in recent memory. The citizenry came together on each occasion to help the unfortunate victims endure... View Exhibit Page
Disasters - Fires
In recent memory there have been two large fire disasters in town: the old Easkoot House in 1976 and the Grand Hotel in 1971.... View Exhibit Page
Disasters - Oil Spill
In our recent memory two large oil spills in 1971 and 2007 affected Stinson Beach. To keep the oil from floating into Bolinas Lagoon, booms were created across the channel. For information about 2007, Cosco-Busan oil spill, see our newspaper clipping... View Exhibit Page
Disasters - Shipwrecks and Others
Here we have included stranded ships, boats, and marine mammals.... View Exhibit Page
Easkoot Creek
Easkoot Creek runs through the town of Stinson Beach emptying into Bolinas Lagoon. In the past salmon swam up the creek to spawn. Several times the creek has overflowed it's banks damaging property.... View Exhibit Page
Fairs, Festivals and Holidays
This exhibit contains photographs and posters of some of the most memorable occasions in this town. Not only did these events provide entertainment for the community, they had a fundraising component that enabled us to finance many projects important... View Exhibit Page
Government - Coast Guard
Photos of dogs and horses and the Coast Guardsmen who used to patrol the beach during WWII. Also included are written materials that recall West Marin during the war years and beyond.... View Exhibit Page
Library (Stinson Beach Branch of Marin County Free Library)
The Stinson Beach Library has changed location many times. For many years the people of Stinson Beach had to go to Bolinas for their books, but in 1936 the Stinson Beach Branch opened in a section of a building occupied by a real estate/insurance off... View Exhibit Page
Maps
This exhibit contains historical maps of this region as well as detail plans of local sites in the form of planing maps by local and county organizations; architectural, plumbing, site plans of specific developments.... View Exhibit Page
Marin County - West Marin
Sites, Ranches and Structures on Mount Tamalpais, and in Stinson Beach, Bolinas, Olema, Point Reyes Station and Point Reyes National Recreation Area.... View Exhibit Page
Mount Tamalpais
This post card says, "This is a landmark of Marin County. With an elevation of 2,600 feet and many hiking trails and roads for motorists, this is a popular recreation area. The views of the Pacific Ocean, Redwood trees and the San Francisco Bay area... View Exhibit Page
Neighborhoods - Old Town / Hills
This is the area developed under Stinson Subdivision #1 filed by by Archie Upton March 1906 on behalf of the Stinson-Upton family and includes hillside of State Highway 1, not including Highland Development which came in 1944 filed by Douglas Nye and... View Exhibit Page
Neighborhoods - Downtown
Downtown area comprising Highway One to the Coast, originally Stinson Subdivisions 2 & 3 and along the Highway One of Stinson Subdivision 1, created on 1906; it also includes southern portion of GGNRA which was the part of old Rancho Sausalito, devel... View Exhibit Page
Neighborhoods - Calles and Patios
When Nathan Stinson died in 1910, he left to his stepchildren Archie and Ida Upton 1/4 each, and to his brother Amos Stinson 1/2, of his 1,637-acre holdings. Judge Archie Upton, who moved to Stinson (Willow Camp) in 1905, had already operated Camp Up... View Exhibit Page
Neighborhoods - Highlands
Stinson Beach Highlands was developed by Douglas Nye and Lucien Marsh on the land aquired from the Stinson daughters in 1944 with the water system developed by Archie Upton. It had half-acre oceanview lots and 50-foot wide streets with underground ut... View Exhibit Page
Neighborhoods - Panoramic Highway
This exhibit includes developments along the Panoramic Highway created inside of the Rancho Saucelito (Sausalito) Mexican Grant. It was crowned by the White Gate Ranch (1890 to 1972) at the top of hill for a long time until it was dismantled by GGNRA... View Exhibit Page
Neighborhoods - Seadrift
In 1901 William Kent purchased the 62-acre sandspit with a Railroad in mind and sold 10 acres in the middle to William Neumann for a Hotel, Dipsea Inn; however, by 1911 the plan for a railroad to Bolinas was dead. After the death of William Kent in 1... View Exhibit Page
Organizations - Allied Arts
For over 50 years Stinson Beach Allied Arts was a vital part of our community. It was founded in 1946 with 37 charter members, its purpose "to stimulate, promote and support creative activities in Stinson Beach and to support in every way the aims, e... View Exhibit Page
Organizations - Library Improvement Society
The first library in Stinson Beach opened in 1936 in part of a building housing a real estate and insurance office. In 1943 the library was granted permission to move into a small building in the County Park but had to relocate in 1958 to the Sea Bea... View Exhibit Page
Organizations - Bolinas-Stinson Beach School District & Stinson Beach Preschool
In 1917 Stinson Beach built its first one-room schoolhouse on land donated to the Village by Amos Stinson and two of his relatives. After a succession of teachers Mildred (Robertson) Sadler became its mainstay, remaining there for 41 years (1926-67).... View Exhibit Page
Organizations - Progressive Club of Stinson Beach
The Progressive Club was established on January 8, 1930 to improve the lives of Stinson Beach residents. There were several committees: community service, publicity, emergency and membership. Meetings were the first Wed. of each month at 7:30, except... View Exhibit Page
Organizations - Seadrift Home Owners Association
Seadrift Home Owners Association is an organization for the people who live within the Seadrift Development. SBHS has very little information in the form of photos and documents. Here are some that relate to this subject.... View Exhibit Page
Organizations - Stinson Beach Community Center, Inc.
Stinson Beach Community Center is composed of three buildings; Fire House (1949), Community Center Hall (1953), and Community Chapel (1962). They are all governed by the Stinson Beach Community Center, Inc. whose members are elected representatives f... View Exhibit Page
Organizations-Stinson Beach Volunteer Fire Dept/Ambulance Corps
The Fire Department was the first organization established in Stinson Beach (1921) but it took until 1947 to find a permanent location for their equipment. When the Community Center was incorporated to receive a gift of land, their first project was... View Exhibit Page
Organizations - Stinson Beach Historical Society
Please read and visit the this organization's home page on their website. SBHS participates in the bi-annual Cuisine on the Green, a Community Center event at the Village Green in May, organizes and prepares an annual Holiday Luncheon at the Communit... View Exhibit Page
Organizations - Village Association and Village Green
The Progressive Club, as its name implies, supported developments in Stinson Beach which would benefit the town's residents economically. Thanks to the dedicated work of local conservationists, the County was forced to abandon the full scale developm... View Exhibit Page
Panoramas
The beautiful coastline of Stinson Beach has been captured in many photographs over the years. These photographs also reveal the developmental history of Stinson Beach by showing the numbers of houses or showing newer developments along the coast and... View Exhibit Page
People - Individuals and Families - "A"
Every individual and family has left their footprint on our town's history. While we honor everybody in these photographs, we would like to draw particular attention to some historically significant figures in this exhibit. The Airey family is perhap... View Exhibit Page
People - Individuals and Families "B & C"
While we honor everybody in these photographs, we would like to draw particular attention to some historically significant figures in this exhibit. Edgar A. Cohen, a professional photographer, was an important visitor to our town. Our oldest images o... View Exhibit Page
People - Individuals and Families "D, E & F"
While we honor everybody in these photographs, we would like to draw particular attention to some historically significant figures in this exhibit. The Dunn/Casteldine/Reutinger family is memorialized in our history book, "Memories of Willow Camp." C... View Exhibit Page
People - Individuals and Families "G & H"
While we honor everybody in these photographs, we would like to draw particular attention to some historically significant figures in this exhibit. Frenchy Gales was known as the "colorful" character for his adventures. He was a stage driver, a Golde... View Exhibit Page
People - Individuals and Families "I, J, K & L"
While we honor everybody in these photographs, we would like to draw particular attention to some historically significant figures in this exhibit. George and Wilma Leonard who built their home in the Highlands became the last large landholder before... View Exhibit Page
People - Individual and Families - "M"
While we honor everybody in these photographs, we would like to draw particular attention to some historically significant figures in this exhibit. Mabel and William McKinnon (McKennan) operated McKinnon's's Ferry to Bolinas from their landing along... View Exhibit Page
People - Individuals and Families "N, O, P & Q"
While we honor everybody in these photographs, we would like to draw particular attention to some historically significant figures in this exhibit. Edward O'Keefe's father was the one of the first school board members when the school was built in 191... View Exhibit Page
People - Individuals and Families - "R"
While we honor everybody in these photographs, we would like to draw particular attention to some historically significant figures in this exhibit. Joan Casteldine and Otto Reutinger retired to Joan's childhood home, Stinson Beach, in 1969. Joan wrot... View Exhibit Page
People - Individuals and Families "S"
While we honor everybody in these photographs, we would like to draw particular attention to some historically significant figures in this exhibit. Our town's namesake Nathan Stinson and James Wallace Upton bought 1720 acres from Capt. Morgan. Upon J... View Exhibit Page
People - Individuals and Families "T & U"
While we honor everybody in these photographs, we would like to draw particular attention to some historically significant figures in this exhibit. In 1870 Nathan Stinson / James Wallace Upton partners bought a 1700-acre farm/ranch here. Upon the dea... View Exhibit Page
People - Individuals and Families "V - Z"
While we honor everybody in these photographs, we would like to draw particular attention to some historically significant figures in this exhibit. Artists Thaddeus and Ludmilla Welch lived for 5 years in the late 1990s in a two-story cabin they buil... View Exhibit Page
Performing Arts
Being a somewhat isolated community, Stinson Beach seems to foster the desire for creative expression. Our self-sufficient townsfolk have a history of coming together to entertain each other and showcase local talent.... View Exhibit Page
People-Local Groups & Visitors
Stinson Beach has always attracted a wide variety of visitors, some of whom remain and become a part of the fabric of our diverse community. The benches in front of the town store, Airey Building, has always been a favorite gathering/meeting place fo... View Exhibit Page
Ranches
Capt. Isaac Morgan, who bought entire eastside of Bolinas Lagoon (1852) including the sandspit, planted apples here. He sold the Stinson Beach area of his land to his friend and the first surveyor of Marin County, Capt. Alfred Easkoot (1852) and to N... View Exhibit Page
Signs - Business Cards
... View Exhibit Page
Snow in Stinson and Mt. Tamalpais
To have snow in Stinson Beach or on Mt. Tamalpais is very special.... View Exhibit Page
Sports
Where the mountain meets the sea, Stinson Beach offers both residents and visitors a wide variety of recreational opportunities. While hunting, fishing and hiking used to be what brought most recreationists to our area, now we attract more surfing en... View Exhibit Page
Steep Ravine
In 1904, in preparation to build a railroad that would connect West Point on Mt. Tamalpais to the Olema Valley via Steep Ravine, Willow Camp (Stinson Beach), across the sandspit to Bolinas, and north as far as Tocaloma, William Kent bought hundreds o... View Exhibit Page
Transportation
In the beginning people hiked on the Lone Tree Trail from "over the hill" to Willow Camp or went to and from Bolinas by boat. In 1902 Manuel Nunes ran a 4-horse Stage from West Point Terminal on the road created along the railroad grade built in anti... View Exhibit Page
Trees and Wildlife
The history of Stinson Beach began with the hikers who came over here by way of Lone Tree Trail now called Dipsea Trail. We have several photos of this landmark tree. Then there are the beautiful oak trees and majestic redwoods ubiquitous to the Cali... View Exhibit Page
Willow Camp Lake aka Poison Lake
The Willow Camp Lake, believed to be fed by a spring near the present day Life Guard Station, was one of the topographic dividing points between Rancho Baulenes and Rancho Sausalito. It was called Poison Lake by locals because of the creatures such a... View Exhibit Page