Marin County's spectacular Pacific coast has been noted as both one of the most beautiful locations on earth and--for some early mariners--a place of absolute terror. The rocky coast here has claimed hundreds of ships and the lives of thousands of sailors. Though long known for its beautiful natural settings of woodlands, beaches, and hills, Marin's maritime history is surprisingly varied, with tales of English pirates, Spanish explorers, Yankee whalers, and an immense wartime shipbuilding effort. The rocky seascapes and sandy beaches of Point Reyes, Bolinas, and Stinson Beach--along with the...

Angel Island, in the Town of Tiburon, is a mile-square jewel set in San Francisco Bay that attracts thousands of visitors each year. Few of those who hike, bike, camp, or enjoy the spectacular vistas in this California State Park realize its diverse history. From the Spanish ships that anchored at Ayala Cove in 1775 to the 1960s cold war-era missile silos, Angel Island has endured to become one of the most popular parks in the state. Although many building were demolished, there are still countless reminders of the island's multifaceted evolution, including a quarantine station, army base,...

Marin County has long been known for its beautiful woodlands, seashores, and hills, but its towns, people, and architecture tell an equally compelling story. The largest of the Bay Area's nine counties, Marin has an amazingly varied makeup in both its populace and its natural setting. From the sparse, rocky seascapes and sandy beaches along the Point Reyes Peninsula, Bolinas, and Stinson Beach, to the suburban tracts of San Rafael, Corte Madera, and Novato, this county runs the gamut of California lifestyles and landscapes.

The Tiburon Peninsula was once a part of the vast El Rancho Corte Madera Del Presidio, owned by generations of the pioneering Reed family, whose dairies colonized the rolling grasslands and willow groves of Tiburon, Belvedere, and Strawberry. Nearby Angel Island was militarized during the Civil War, later supporting an immigration station, and finally, a state historic park. Tiburon became the steaming, smoking terminus of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad, with ferries and trains dominating its industry for over 80 years until the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge signaled the end of the...