1953 Map of Drakes Bay

About this map

Point Reyes National Seashore dominates this 1950s coastal landscape, where the dairy ranching history of Marin County is preserved through a series of alphabetically designated holdings like H Ranch, M Ranch, and D Ranch. The intricate fingers of Drakes Estero—including Schooner Bay, Home Bay, and Creamery Bay—illustrate the complex interaction of tidal inlets and the Pacific shoreline before modern developments could alter the terrain. Traces of maritime and industrial history are visible at the Schooner Ldg (Site) and a Blacksmith Shop (Site), while the southern tip of the peninsula features the Lighthouse and a Coast Guard Reservation. The map captures a moment when traditional land use patterns remained legible, from the pastures of Home Ranch to the navigational aids at Chimney Rock and the Radio Towers along the dunes.