1897 Map of Tamalpais

About this map

Mt. Tamalpais dominates the coastal skyline of Marin County in this late-nineteenth-century survey, its West Peak and East Peak rising above a landscape of deep canyons and sprawling Mexican land grant boundaries. The map documents an era when rail travel was the primary connection between these coastal communities and the growing urban center to the south. The North Pacific Coast R. R. skirts the eastern shore and winds toward San Rafael, while the San Quentin R. R. and the San Francisco and North Pacific R. R. link the waterfront to inland settlements. Along the western edge, the remote village of Bolinas sits at the entrance to Bolinas Lagoon, separated from the more developed bayside by the massive Bolinas Ridge. Notable landmarks like the Cliff House and Pt. Lobos appear at the northern tip of San Francisco across the Golden Gate, providing a rare look at the entrance to the bay before modern spans were constructed.