GOGA/MUWO - Stinson Beach
History
Stinson Beach has grown under the influence of people from many cultures over many years; they came to enjoy the scenic beauty of this treasure and stayed to become part of its history.
Coastal Miwoks may have been the first human residents of the area. Shell mounds have been found near the beach indicating past habitation. Using the abundant natural resources to survive, they built their homes and boats from willows and tules and gathered coho salmon, steelhead trout, mussels and clams from the ocean to eat.
The first historic record of the area dates back to 1836, when the beach became part of the Spanish land grant Rancho Baulines. It was run by Rafael Garcia for ten years, then by his brother-in-law Gregorio Briones. The land passed out of the family's hands in 1852, when Captain Issac Morton purchased it and began to grow prize-winning apples.
Surrounded as it is by mountains and ocean, the settlement remained isolated in the early years. Visitors could only reach the beach by boat, horseback, or foot. The first dirt road came into town in 1870, running along the coastal route that is now Highway 1, increasing accessibility to the beach and bringing more tourists. Nathan and Rose Stinson set up tents for visitors to stay in among the willows, giving the town its first name, Willow Camp. Alfred Easkoot set up his own tent camp nearby, giving the Stinsons a little competition.
The Mill Valley and Mt. Tamalpais Scenic Railroad opened in 1896, making Willow Camp easier to get to. Visitors could ride the train to West Point Inn and then hike or arrange a stagecoach to take them to the beach.
The community blossomed following the 1906 earthquake, when displaced families from San Francisco arrived and built some of the town's earliest businesses.
Stinson Beach became the official town name in 1916, in honor of the largest landowners, Rose and Nathan Stinson. Panoramic Highway, built in 1928, and the Golden Gate Bridge, built in 1937, brought more people for day trips to this quiet resort community.
In 1939 the beach was sold to the county to become a park for all to enjoy, and in 1950 it was turned over to the state of California.
World War II brought new changes to the community. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, military bunkers were established for coastal defense. For the first time not only locals and tourists, but workers and servicemen from all over the United States came to the area. After the war, some soldiers and their families stayed and helped contribute to the growth of the community.
Over the last hundred years one tradition has endured: the annual Dipsea Race, begun in 1905 and run each June, brings participants from all over the world. The runners follow the rigorous and historic Dipsea Trail for 7.5 miles from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach to the cheers of crowds of spectators.
Throughout the 20th century land was set aside for preservation. Established in 1972, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area administers much of the land just east and north of the town, but the state did not transfer possession of the beach to the National Park Service until 1977.
Today, the county retains a section of the beach to the north of the NPS land. Today, visitors continue to experience the many facets of this quiet beach community.
Whether hiking the trails, enjoying a picnic, exploring the town, or relaxing on the beach, they discover that Stinson Beach continues to be a great escape from the frantic pace of every day life, just as it has throughout history.