By Lynn Downey If you are interested in the history of western Marin County then you have probably visited the Tomales Regional History Center on Highway 1 in the town of Tomales (TRHC). This gem of a museum is housed in the 1921 former gymnasium of the original high school…

By Carol Acquaviva Please join us for a virtual program on Wednesday, September 14th at 6:30, to hear true crime author Tobin T. Buhk explain “The Story of Amos Lunt and the Fine Art of Hanging.” Buhk is the author of a new biography on Lunt, a former police chief…

By Brian K. Crawford EDITOR’S NOTE: Historian Brian K. Crawford’s profile of William “Kid” Thompson is part of a series inspired by an album of San Quentin State Prison mug shots from the collection of Daniel Sullivan. This album and other materials documenting San Quentin State Prison from circa 1880–1919…

By Carol Acquaviva

By Robert L. Harrison Bray Dickinson is a name well known among Marin County’s railroad enthusiasts. He wrote Narrow Gauge to the Redwoods, the definitive history of the Marin’s North Pacific Coast (NPC) narrow gauge railroad. His enthusiasm for the subject is clear: “All of us who grew up within…

By Raymond R. Lang Editor’s Note: This essay appeared in the 1923 (Vol. II, no. II) issue of Trails, a yearbook published annually by the California Alpine Club based in San Francisco. Its author, Raymond R. Lang, delivers practical advice for the modern out-of-doors experience, which is at times both…

By Robert L. Harrison Late night ferry service between Marin County and San Francisco has been a long-running concern for county residents. Before the Golden Gate Bridge connected the two communities, the need for ferry service was a critical link for everything from daily commerce and commuting to emergency medical…

By Carol Acquaviva Native American stereotypes have long been used to market commercial products. The Land O’Lakes maiden is one of the most well-known examples. Popular culture has a knack for distorting reality, and Native Americans are often depicted as primitive people rather than what they really are: members of…

By Robert L. Harrison Nationally, there has been a slow demise of print newspapers. This is in vivid contrast to the time when most read the daily newspaper as their primary source of news. In the late 19th century the Bay Area was…