1941 Map of Tamalpais

About this map

Mt. Tamalpais anchors this coastal landscape during the early years of World War II, a time when the Marin headlands were heavily fortified for Pacific defense. The map details the military presence at Fort Cronkhite and Fort Barry, protecting the Golden Gate entrance alongside the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. While the coastal side remains largely defined by the rugged shorelines of Bolinas Lagoon and Muir Beach, the eastern slopes show the growth of railroad-connected communities like Mill Valley, Larkspur, and San Rafael along the Northwestern Pacific RR. This 1941 survey captures the transition from historic Mexican land grants, such as Las Baulines and Sausalito, into a modern landscape of conservation and suburbanization, evidenced by Muir Woods National Mon and the Meadow Club Golf Club.