Muir Woods / Sausalito / Tiburon Tour

Muir Woods was declared a national monument in 1908 by President Roosevelt as a dedication to the United Nations and to promote world peace.

John Muir was one of the original environmentalists. He was instrumental in the establishment and preservation of all the national parks West of Colorado including the Yosemite National Park, as well as the foundation of the Sierra Club.

Senator Kent purchased 560 acres of land in 1908 to prevent loggers from destroying the forest. He then turned the land over back to the state. The park was later named in John Muir’s honor. Some of the giant Redwood trees found here are about 1,000 years old, stand over 300 ft tall, and 14 ft wide.

Sausalito is a Mediterranean – like village perched on the hillside with magnificent panoramas of the San Francisco Bay. At the turn of the century, it became a perfect place for the socialites from San Francisco escaping the summer fog.

Like San Francisco, Sausalito has its own colorful history. During prohibition, it became a hub for bootleggers transporting Canadian whiskey. Sally, who was also a Madame become one of the city’s mayors.

In 1775, Juan Manuel Ayala discovered the San Francisco Bay. He anchored his ship in on Angel Island. At the time, the bay was full of sharks and thus the name Tiburon.

During the lumber trade, Tiburon was the end of the railroad from Eureka to San Francisco. The Arc Row was named after the recreational houseboat lifestyles of the sea captains, bohemian artists and summer residents.

Between 1880s to 1930s, the cove was a bustling, rowdy village full of drunken sailors and others. Naturally, this led to all sorts of accidents. Soon enough, it became apparent that this new lifestyle was unsustainable.

Fires in 1890 and again 1921 destroyed the village. After the 1906 earthquake, displaced San Francisco residents moved to other parts of the bay including Sausalito and Tiburon.

The Arc Row shops (circa 1880s) have been preserved as a monument to this vibrant heritage.