Compilation of vignettes about the history of Mill Valley.

Compilation of vignettes about the history of Mill Valley.

Compilation of documents and vignettes about the history of the Alto area in Mill Valley, California.

Historical Fiction about a Coast Miwok Indian leader, Chief Marin, recreating his childhood in 1700s in the San Francisco Bay Area. For Third Graders and up.

An illustrated history of the cradle of American industrialization

Marin County, just north of San Francisco, is a graveyard of ships. Its steep rock-bound shores, treacherous currents and frequent fogs have been the doom of hundreds of ships for over four hundred years. Local historian Brian K. Crawford has done extensive research fleshing out the details of famous wrecks from contemporary accounts, and identifying more than a hundred wrecks not documented elsewhere. Many of these are disasters within San Francisco Bay.Many of these tales are full of danger and heroism, of pathos and high adventure. Terrified passengers cling to overturned steamers or clutch at rocks in the pounding seas. Seamen clamber up cliffs to escape certain destruction. One captain runs two ferries aground and sinks a yacht all in one day. The vessels range from Spanish treasure galleons to garbage scows, clipper ships to floating dry docks.If you love ships and the sea or tales of danger and adventure, or if you just want to know more about the many wrecks that dot our coasts, you will find this book endlessly entertaining.

The Mill Valley Oral History Committee has been documenting the memories of Mill Valley residents since the early 1970's. Over one hundred oral histories are available at the Mill Valley Public Library. You may check out the transcripts of the interviews and listen to the tapes in the Lucretia Hansen Little History Room.