Ask the Historian

Do you have a question about local history? Ask our resident historian and librarian, Jocelyn Moss. E-mail your question to jocelyn@marinhistory.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the name “Marin” come from?

Marin County was named for a Coast Miwok Indian warrior known as Chief Marin. He fought against the Spanish military occupation and its effects on the local native people. During one incident, the Spanish chased Marin to what are now known as the Marin Islands, in the bay off San Rafael. Marin was finally captured and taken to San Francisco in 1824. When he was set free he returned to what is now Marin County and worked as a boatman for the Mission San Rafael. He died in 1834.

What did Sir Francis Drake do in Marin County?
Sir Francis Drake was an English pirate in the employ of Queen Elizabeth I of England. He attacked Spanish vessels carrying gold and silver from South America. He sailed through the Strait of Magellan, up the west coast of South America and eventually well into the north Pacific looking for the fabled Northwest Passage. On his way back south in 1579, he sailed into a small harbor to repair his ship, the Golden Hinde. Most historians believe the harbor was Drake’s Bay on the Point Reyes peninsula, although there is considerable debate as to the exact location. The only account of the landing is in Francis Fletcher’s book The World Encompassed. Drake and his crew stayed on the coast for 36 days. During that time, he had many occasions to meet with the native Coast Miwok people, and claimed to have been crowned as their king. He claimed the land for England, calling it Nova Albion (New England in Latin), and sailed westward to complete his circumnavigation of the world.

What are the origins of Marin City?
In 1942, as part of the war effort, Bechtel Co. established the Marinship shipyard just north of Sausalito to build cargo ships and tankers. Workers came from all over the country to build the ships, and Marin City was built to house many of the workers. After the war, the Marin County Housing Authority took over the site for low cost housing. In 1956, the temporary, wartime buildings were torn down and new housing built. In 1996, a new shopping center was constructed along with new houses and condominiums.

What is the story of the plane crash on White’s Hill near Fairfax?
On May 16, 1946, a B-17 bomber piloted by Army Air Force pilot Ward Skaggs was on its way to Hamilton Field in Novato when it crashed into White’s Hill. The crash was probably caused by an air traffic control error. Three crewmen died and six survived. There were rumors at the time that the plane was carrying nuclear cargo of some sort, but no confirmation of that has ever been found.

In what year did the Northwestern Pacific Railroad end its passenger service in Marin County?
The passenger service ended in 1941. After the Golden Gate Bridge was finished in 1937, more people started driving cars and train ridership fell off. Ferry service was also stopped for several decades.

When was the Mission San Rafael founded, and by whom?
The Mission was founded on December 13, 1817 by Father Prefect Francisco Sarria, Father Luis Gil y Taboada, and friars Ramon Abella and Narciso Duran. Lieutenant Luis Arguello, the Commandant of the San Francisco Presidio, was also present with several soldiers. In the beginning, the Mission was known as an asistencia, or hospital, for sick Indians who were living at the Mission Dolores in San Francisco, and who were transferred to San Rafael for the supposed health effects offered by the warmer, drier climate.

What was Marvelous Marin?
Marvelous Marin was a booster club founded to promote Marin County. It was formed in 1925 to promote real estate and business investment in the county. At that time, plans for the Golden Gate Bridge were being considered, and Marvelous Marin provided important political and civic support for the bridge.

Boyd Park is adjacent to
the marin history museum.

Bell from the James M. Donahue
Ferry (built 1875) sits out in front of the museum.