Marin History Museum: History

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Marin History Museum Timeline

Celebrating the First 25 Years

Jan. 1934	The Marin County Historical Society (MCHS) holds its first meeting at San Rafael City Hall.
June 1935	MCHS moves collection into the building of the San Rafael Independent Newspaper, located at 1028 B Street in San Rafael. Major Newell Vanderbilt presides as Chairman at an organizational meeting to form the Marin County Historical Society.
Sept. 5, 1935	At the first annual meeting, Miss Belle Brown is elected President.
Sept. 9, 1935	Eighty-nine members sign the charter roll, including members from the Burdell, Cushing, Kent, Murray, Pacheco, Pooley, and Vanderbilt families.
Nov. 27, 1935	The Articles of Incorporation are filed with the State of California, which state that the organization is formed for “educational, recreation, and social purposes; specifically to promote the study and research into the history of Marin County and to perpetuate the relics, records and authentic references to the early discoveries, settlement, and organization of Marin County.”
World War II	Marin residents continue to donate articles of historic value to MCHS. These items are moved into the Museum Room at San Rafael High School.
1943	The first newsletter, the “Pastimer,” is published.
1954	MCHS relocates to the Mission San Rafael Arcangel.
1959	The MCHS collection is relocated again, this time to the Boyd Gate House at 1125 B Street, San Rafael. It is the historic gate house, sometimes called a guest house, for Maple Lawn, Louise Arner Boyd’s estate next door.

1960–1985

March 1967	The first MCHS Bulletin is published.
1969	Olompali mansion burns. MCHS appeals to the Board of Supervisors to save the adobe from the bull dozers and pays for the plastic to protect the walls from the weather.
1971	Marin County Board of Supervisors authorizes publishing Early Marin, the first volume of the County’s history authored by Jack Mason and Helen Van Cleave Park, with research support from MCHS.
March 1971	MCHS publishes Marin People, a collection of stories and biographies, Volume I, followed by Volume II in 1973 and Volume III in 1980.
Dec. 1972	MCHS receives federal tax exemption as a non-profit organization.
Sept. 1974	MCHS vacates the Boyd Gate House and the City begins restoration efforts.
1974	San Rafael celebrates its Centennial. The MCHS’s 1904 Oldsmobile wins a blue ribbon award in the parade.
1974	A plaque is presented, which commemorates the addition of the Boyd Gate House to the National Registrar of Historic Places by the United States Department of Interior.
May 1975	MCHS reopens its museum in the restored Boyd Gate House.
1975	The Making of Marin, written by Jack Mason and Helen Van Cleve Park under the auspices of the Marin County Historical Society, is published.
July 1979	The Elk’s Club celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Boyd Gate House.
April 1985	Native Sons of the Golden West present plaque in honor of Boyd Gate House to commemorate MHCS’s 50th anniversary.

1986–2010

1987	MHM publishes “Science & Society, The Life of Arctic Explorer Louise Boyd.”
Oct. 1989	The City of San Rafael closes the Boyd Gate House for seismic retrofitting.
March 1993	Restored, renovated, and reorganized, the Boyd Gate House reopens, thanks to a dedicated group of volunteers. The ship’s bell from the James M. Donahue Ferry is permanently installed in front of the Museum.
1999	A complete survey of the Museum’s collection is taken, an important step towards accreditation.
2000	Marin County Historical Society is renamed as the Marin History Museum (MHM).
2004	MHM walking tours of San Rafael begin.
Dec. 2004	Two exhibitions open at the Boyd Gate House: a WWII exhibit featuring oral histories by students of St. Marks School and an exhibition about the building of the Golden Gate Bridge open in the South Gallery. An exhibition on Louise A. Boyd opens in the North Gallery.
July 2005	The Artifact and Photography Collections move from the second floor of the Boyd Gate House to a temporary offsite storage space.
2006	Renovations are made to the Boyd Gate House to accommodate larger exhibition space and administration offices.
2006	MHM receives a Conservation Assessment Program grant to identify preservation strategies for improving the use of the historic building and collections.
2006	MHM presents Dorothea Lange at Steep Ravine at the Marin Community Foundation, a traveling exhibition that is also displayed at the San Francisco Public Library (2007), the Bolinas Art Museum (2008), and the Stinson Beach Library (2008).
Dec. 2006	MHM presents Marin Family Photo Album, an exhibition featuring photos collected from local Marin families.
May 2007	MHM presents Time to Play, an exhibition about early 20th century toys.
Nov. 2007	MHM presents Riding the Rails, an exhibition about the historic trains that ran through Marin County.
2008	The Artifact, Photography and Library Collections move to a new temperature and humidity controlled facility.
2008	MHM publishes the book Early San Rafael.
2008	In collaboration with Novato High School's Marin School of the Arts, MHM creates a short documentary titled Trains of Marin.
Feb. 2009	MHM presents Growing the Future, an exhibition about Marin’s agricultural pioneers and current farming families.
June 2009	MHM holds a gala event featuring a Marin Music Tribute directed by Grammy award-winning producer and drummer Narada Michael Walden.
Sept. 2009	Metallica performs for a Marin Rocks fundraising concert organized by MHM.
Sept. 2009	MHM launches an annual Open House for educators.
Dec. 2009	San Rafael City Council approves 850 Fourth Street as a site for the MHM Music Center and Marin Rocks exhibition. MHM becomes a three campus operation.
Dec. 2009	MHM helps organize the Marin Archive Collective, in order to encourage the sharing of information between Marin County’s various heritage organizations.
Jan. 2010	MHM presents Ranching and Rockin’ at Olompali an exhibition about Olompali State Park.
Jan. 2010	In collaboration with Novato High School’s Marin School of the Arts, MHM produces a short documentary about the Marin Farmers Market.
April 2010	MHM receives two Honorable Mentions in the AAM Museum Publication Design Competition.
Fall 2010	MHM Music Center will open on Fourth Street in San Rafael.