1954 Map of Inverness

About this map

San Andreas Fault Zone defines the dramatic geography of this West Marin landscape, carved by the linear valley of Olema Creek and Tomales Bay. During the mid-1950s, the area remained largely pastoral and marine-oriented, with Oyster Beds and a Yacht Club at Inverness. The transportation network is in a state of transition, visible where the Dismantled Railroad traces the shoreline near Bivalve and Point Reyes Station, marking the end of the narrow-gauge era that once connected these coastal dairies to San Francisco. Significant land holdings like Bear Valley Ranch and Laguna Ranch represent the region's agricultural roots, while the Sir Francis Drake Highway serves as the primary artery connecting inland settlements like Tocaloma and Olema to the coast. From the high points of Mt Wittenburg and Point Reyes Hill, the terrain drops sharply toward the Pacific Ocean and the sheltered waters of Drakes Bay.