Name: Salinas Valley
Brand: Margaret E. Clovis
SKU: 9780738530482
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Salinas Valley

9780738530482

$24.99

The Salinas River meanders through the center of a long, lovely valley, sometimes ducking underground in summer, or diverting into canals to water fields that stretch away to the chiseled Santa Lucia Mountains. Memorialized by novelist John Steinbeck, and often called the salad bowl of the nation, Salinas Valley was the site of the Spanish Mission Soledad, founded in 1791. During the rancho era, vast herds of cattle waded though grasslands and later, failed gold miners founded towns like Salinas at well-traveled crossroads. Flourishing grain crops attracted the Southern Pacific Railroad, and as the shining track was laid, Chualar, Gonzales, Soledad, King City, San Lucas, San Ardo, and Bradley sprouted alongside them. Resorts like Paraiso Springs once brought visitors to the foothills, while people of many nationalities came to live and work in settlements like Greenfield, where irrigation soaks the dark, fertile loam by the sinuous river that now supports a mighty $3 billion agricultural industry.

Cover image for Salinas Valley, isbn: 9780738530482

Balboa Park and the 1915 Exposition

9781626193451

$24.99

The Panama-California Exposition of 1915 established San Diego as a focal point of cultural activity in California. The Spanish Colonial Revival exposition buildings, along with those from a second exposition in Balboa, house several of the great museums of San Diego. This 1,200-acre park in the central portion of the city contains the world-famous San Diego Zoo, fifteen museums, the Old Globe Theatre, sports and recreation facilities, hiking trails and some of America's most elaborate gardens. The late Richard W. Amero, longtime Balboa Park historian, wrote extensively about the park and its two expositions. His chapters on the creation of the first exposition have been edited into this essential volume on city history by Michael Kelly, president of the Committee of One Hundred. .

Calistoga

9780738555942

$24.99

Calistoga is a name unlike that of any other city in America, first uttered by a man who had intended to develop the "beautiful land"--or Tu-la-halusi as the land at the foot of Mount St. Helena was known to the region's native Wappo tribe--into a resort area rivaling that great eastern resort of similar geological character, Saratoga Springs, New York. During a promotional event, the developer, Samuel Brannan, was about to declare that he would make his hot springs resort community the Saratoga of California, when he transposed the names and declared he would make it the Calistoga of Sarafornia--and the town's name was born. The name resonated with locals at the time and has come to represent the pioneer spirit, optimism, and determination of those who would make their way to this secluded region of northern Napa County. Men and women have come in pursuit of their dreams--farming, bottling the local mineral water, and building a community in the spirit of early Calistoga.

St. Helena

9780738580098

$24.99

The town of St. Helena lies in the heart of Napa Valley, America's celebrated wine-producing region located 63 miles north of San Francisco. In 1854, Henry Still and a Mr. Walters purchased 126 acres from the Mexican land grant of Dr. Edward Bale. They offered free lots to anyone who would start a business there, having the foresight to predict a flourishing town in this verdant agricultural area. Premium wine grapes were planted here by the 1870s, and a thriving wine industry began. There are two theories about how the town got its name: either from the local division of the Sons of Temperance or from Mount St. Helena at the northern end of the valley. As the town developed, its residents, along with those from nearby Oakville, Rutherford, Angwin, and Pope Valley, shopped at its stores, attended its churches and schools, tended its fields, and made merry at numerous gatherings. This book captures these activities in photographs dating from 1880 to 1960.

Lake Tahoe

9780738558493

$24.99

Lake Tahoe has hosted a variety of visitors and residents through the years, from the early days of Washoe settlements, to rough logging camps, to today's extravagant resorts. When early settlers arrived after John C. Fremont's 1844 expedition, they would come by train to Truckee and then by wagon or narrow-gauge rail to Tahoe City. Over time, majestic resorts began to dot the lakeshore, such as the Tahoe Tavern, which included a ski hill, golf course, stables, movie theater, and bowling alley. Summer residents often extended their stays, until many lived here year-round. The lake gained fame during the 1960 Winter Olympics, and fast growth followed in these sleepy mountain towns.

Azusa Pacific University

9780738559261

$24.99

Located in the community of Azusa, 26 miles northeast of Los Angeles, Azusa Pacific University is nestled among the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, which provide a rugged backdrop for two campuses. The 52-acre East Campus is situated at the intersection of Alosta and Citrus Avenues, while the 22-acre West Campus is located a quarter-mile away on Foothill Boulevard. The mission statement for the university declares that it is "an evangelical Christian community of disciples and scholars who seek to advance the work of God in the world through academic excellence in liberal arts and professional programs of higher education that encourage students to develop a Christian perspective of truth and life." The university's four cornerstones are Christ, scholarship, community, and service. Throughout the history of the university, there have been several name changes and location changes; but, as illustrated in this pictorial history, the university's motto--"God First"--has remained unchanged.

Legendary Locals of Oakland

9781467102094

$24.99

Oakland has been shaped by the transcontinental railroad, freeways, earthquakes, and its location on the shores of San Francisco Bay. But what makes Oakland such an amazing city are the people who have called Oakland home over the years, like Mayor Samuel Merritt, who helped make Oakland the terminus of the transcontinental railroad; Elizabeth Flood, who worked to desegregate Oakland schools in the 1870s; and F.M. "Borax" Smith, who created the Key System. Oakland has been home to game-changing athletes like "father of modern tennis" Don Budge and Curt Flood, who helped bring free agency to sports; artists like writer Jack London, dancer Isadora Duncan, poet Joaquin Miller, and cartoonist Morrie Turner; and culture-shaping movements like the Black Panther Party. However, the impact of Oaklanders is not just historical. From Oscar Grant to Favianna Rodriguez to Marshawn Lynch to Jerry Brown, people in Oakland continue to shape not just "the Town," but the entire country.

Huntington Beach

9780738558288

$24.99

The 100-year history of Huntington Beach is a rich amalgam of agriculture, oil, surfing, beach culture, aerospace, and small-town America. This comparative, visual evolution of the city is crafted for both locals and tourists alike, featuring some of the most defining views ever captured of Surf City, USA®.

The Building of the Oroville Dam

9781467130790

$24.99

In the early 1960s, thousands of construction workers and their families came to Oroville, in Northern California, to help build the largest earth-fill dam in the world. Located nine miles northeast of town, the Oroville Dam would be the cornerstone of the California State Water Project, which would provide flood control, electric power, recreation, and water to California residents. The project was so massive that it would reinvent the look of much of the area; require the building of roads, bridges, and railroads; inundate much of the area's history under hundreds of feet of water; and greatly effect the lives of the residents of Oroville. The successful completion of the project came at a price--34 construction workers died.

Centerville, Fremont

9780738581774

$24.99

The tale of Centerville, Fremont--part of the sprawling landscape of the southeast San Francisco Bay--begins with near forgotten histories such as the once sprawling grandeur of the Alviso rancho and the California 100, a battalion raised in Centerville for the Civil War. Centerville celebrates a sporting-mad past, centrally located on the "Way to San Jose" from Oakland on the long, straight stretch once famed for horse and then bicycle racing and later as a motor-touring destination on the early Route 17. By the 1890s, Centerville was home to Washington Union High School and the Centerville Athletic Club and began collecting trophies in football, rugby, baseball, and other sports. Fabled athletes of later eras include Wimbledon tennis queen Helen Wills Moody, football coach Bill Walsh, and hall of fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley.

Historic Cemeteries of Long Beach

9781467117135

$24.99

The stories of those who lived in the city by the sea begin long before the 1878 date on the oldest headstone found in the city. Long Beach was the site of ceremonies, and perhaps the burial grounds, for the Tongva tribe. Many of those who later settled the city are buried in one of the four known cemeteries, Municipal, Sunnyside, Forest Lawn Long Beach, and All Souls. Two of the cemeteries hold the graves of several hundred Union and Confederate Civil War veterans, one Medal of Honor recipient, and a slave who served in the 1st Colored Heavy Artillery Regiment. The histories of the Municipal and Sunnyside Cemeteries include the 1921 discovery of oil, which made national news as descendants of the deceased fought for the oil underneath the graves. The fight resulted in a second Sunnyside Cemetery that later became Forest Lawn Long Beach. The scene of oil derricks surrounding the cemeteries was so surreal that it caught the attention of Ansel Adams, whose photographs of Sunnyside Cemetery are included.

The 1964 Flood of Humboldt and Del Norte

9781467130882

$24.99

The 1964 flood in the Eel and Klamath Rivers drainages represents an extreme weather event. Both the Northern California and Southern Oregon coasts are host to many floods, but the 1964 flood stands out as a representation of the "perfect storm." Three events occurred that led to the flood. First, a cold front moved in and dropped several feet of snow. Second, a warm front called the "pineapple connection" moved in and released lots of rain while melting the snowfall--local measurements varied from 20 to 32 inches of rainwater in three days. And third, the highest tide of the year had backed up debris and water for several miles. At its peak, the Eel River was discharging more than 800,000 cubic feet per second. Another contributing factor was that besides being one of the fastest rising and falling rivers in the world, the Eel River has the heaviest sediment load second only to the Yellow River in China.

The 1964 Flood of Humboldt and Del Norte

Baseball in Ventura County

9780738547398

$24.99

Baseball on the West Coast dates back to 1847, when the New York Volunteer Regiment stationed in Santa Barbara batted around a cowhide-covered ball with a stick made from a mesquite branch. By 1873, "Venturans" were playing baseball at Seaside Park. The first local player to reach the major leagues was Charley Hall, who pitched for the Cincinnati Reds in 1906, followed by Fred Snodgrass, who brought along his New York Giants and the Chicago White Sox to Ventura County in 1913. The county has produced a major-league Most Valuable Player in Terry Pendleton, who won the honor in 1991 as the leader of the Atlanta Braves, and a No. 1 overall draft pick in Delmon Young, who was selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2003. The county has also served as the home for minor-league teams affiliated with the Yankees, Braves, and Blue Jays.

The Salton Sea

9780738574554

$24.99

The Salton Sea was an accident of man created when heavy rainfall caused the Rio Colorado to swell and breach an Imperial Valley dike in 1905. For two years, water flowed into the Salton Sink and ancient Lake Cahuilla. Today, the sea is 227 feet below sea level, covers approximately 376 square miles, and is California's largest lake. During the early 1900s, it became an important bird and waterfowl refuge. When many species of fish were introduced, the Salton Sea also became popular for boating, fishing, hunting, and camping activities. Motels, yacht clubs, and marinas developed around Salton City and North Shore. During recent decades, the sea has become polluted from agricultural runoff, creating a doubtful future for the Salton Sea. However, it remains a sanctuary for anyone who enjoys bird watching, desert landscapes, or beautiful farmlands.

Historic Tales of Bonita

9781467139854

$23.99

Known for its lemon orchards and dairy farms, Bonita also produced daring dreamers, unlikely businesses and the occasional scandal. Read about how Frank Kimball's railroad dreams led to the Sweetwater Fruit Company. Rediscover why San Miguel Mountain lured land speculators, spring water entrepreneurs and a mustard farmer. Follow the trials and tribulations of Robert J. Woodward, who was determined to build an airship that could carry him across the country. Learn what happened to the Sweetwater Men's Club and the fascinating story behind beloved resident Ella B. Allen. Join author Mary E. Oswell as she delves deep into Bonita's history.

Mexican American Baseball in the San Gabriel Valley

9781467129701

$23.99

Mexican American Baseball in the San Gabriel Valley puts on record the resounding and brilliant history of baseball and softball in this vibrant and colorful region. Since the early 1900s, baseball and softball have brought boundless joy and immense honor to their fans, families, and neighborhoods. The rich memories of baseball and softball serve as critical prisms to better understand community history; the struggle for social, educational, and cultural equality; the untold contributions of women; the critical role of immigration and labor movements; economic autonomy; political self-determination; and an unmatched love for sports. These breathtaking images and extraordinary stories shed unparalleled light on baseball and softball in this celebrated area of California.

San Pedro Bay

9780738530437

$24.99

The name "San Pedro Bay" meant Los Angeles Harbor through the 20th century, but the vestiges of that original, rustic, fishing village-like identity still cling to the port community that, through its proximity to the city of Los Angeles, grew into one of the world's largest centers of importing and exporting. The bay has served commercial fishermen, the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, the sailing yachts of the very wealthy, and the dinghies of the disenfranchised. Today, tugboats guide gargantuan oceangoing cargo ships under the towering gantry cranes for off-loading, and enormous cruise ships call the Port of Los Angeles home.

Lost Restaurants of Sacramento and Their Recipes

9781609499730

$23.99

From saloons and tamale vendors to greasy spoons and neon-lit drive-ins, Sacramento natives Maryellen Burns and Keith Burns trace the trends of California's capital city through 150 years of dining out. Share in the delicious anecdotes and recipes gathered from restaurant owners, employees and patrons as they recall Sacramento's favorite places to eat--a century of Hangtown Fry served at the Saddle Rock, crispy won ton dunked in red sauce at the Hong Kong Cafe, pineapple spare ribs with Mai Tais at Maleville's Coral Reef and burgers and sundaes devoured at Stan's Drive-In. Savor these stories of the ambiance, the service and the grub that created lasting memories and drew crowds, decade after decade, to Sacramento's iconic restaurants.

Lost Restaurants of Sacramento and Their Recipes

Redondo Beach Pier

9780738575025

$24.99

Piers have always drawn people to the mysterious wonder of the ocean. The ability to seemingly walk on water with the construction of a pier has created for humans a sense of temporary mastery of the majestic and merciless sea. The Southern California shoreline has always attracted tourists from near and far to experience the natural beauty of the coastline. Capitalizing on the natural and man-made appeal of the ocean and the pleasure pier, Henry Huntington created in Redondo Beach a fantasyland of wonder and excitement for beachgoers in the early 20th century. As one of the major rivals to the pleasure piers of Santa Monica, Ocean Park, and Venice to the north, the Endless Pier and later the adjacent Monstad Pier in Redondo Beach drew in thousands of tourists a day. Pleasure-seekers can still fish, enjoy dinner and music, shop, or simply take a nighttime stroll over the water on today's Municipal Pier--remnants from the heyday of Redondo Beach's pleasure pier of the early 20th century.

Ramona

9780738581620

$24.99

Originally founded as Nuevo, the community of Ramona is now known affectionately as the Valley of the Sun and was for decades labeled the "Turkey Capital of the World." Long before Spanish missionaries trekked across the verdant valley, 'Ipaay and Kumeyaay Indians called the area home. The temperate climate, fertile valleys, and easy access to both the ocean and to the mountains have made Ramona an ideal place to live for thousands of years. From the Mexican era of land grants to today, Ramona has always been associated with ranching, rodeos, and rural life. Today, nestled in the hills above San Diego, Ramona is a unique blend of rural and urban life.

California's Pioneering Punjabis

9781467148870

$39.95

"…evocative vignettes and inspiring stories from many of California's South Asian American citizens…" Paul Michael Taylor, Director, Asian Cultural History Program, Smithsonian Institution. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, adventurous travelers left the Punjab in India to seek their fortune in California and beyond. Laboring in farms, fields and orchards for low wages while enduring racial discrimination, they strove to put down roots in their new home. Bhagat Singh Thind, an immigrant who served in the United States Army, had his citizenship granted and revoked twice before a 1936 law expanded naturalization to all World War I veterans, regardless of race. Dalip Singh Saund obtained a master's degree and doctorate in mathematics from UC Berkeley only to return to farming when no one would hire him. In 1956, Saund went on to become the first Asian elected to the U.S. Congress. Ethnic South Asians are now found in every trade and profession in the United States, including the Office of the Vice President. Descendants of the first Punjabi immigrants from Yuba City to the Imperial Valley still farm, adding to the rich tapestry of the Central Valley. Author Lea Terhune recounts the risks, setbacks and persistence of the people who achieved their American dreams.

Nevada County Wine

9781467139540

$21.99

Nevada County's tumultuous wine history includes several booms and busts, starting in the 1850s when gold prospectors brought the first grapevines in their saddlebags. Economic downturns, prohibition and war all tried to kill the fledgling wine industry, but it hung on thanks to gentleman farmers and members of the mining industry who supplied a thirsty clientele. Today, although the mines have gone quiet, wineries are thriving in the hills of the Gold Country, and the pioneering spirit lives on in their distinctive vintages and growing techniques. Join author Mary Anne Davis as she explores the family vineyards of the California foothills.

Lost Stories of West Coast Latino Boxing

9781467107327

$23.99

Many West Coast Latino boxers have entered and departed the ring, their anecdotes left behind like another stain on the mat. Latino boxing stories have floated around for ages without the benefit of being passed down from generation to generation. Buried tales and colorful narratives of beloved Mexican ring idols such as Ruben Olivares, Mando Ramos, Carlos Zarate, Danny "Little Red" Lopez, Bobby Chacon, Carlos Palomino, and Alberto Davila are showcased in these pages, their stories revived because no champion deserves to be forgotten. Other overlooked heroes and one-hit wonders of the golden era of Southland boxing (1940s-1970s) will also be saluted, along with the bygone contenders of the barrio who never saw their name in neon lights.

Lost Stories of West Coast Latino Boxing

Chinese in Napa Valley

9781467152785

$23.99

Unearth the origins of Napa Valley's prosperity. Chinese laborers were once the backbone of Napa Valley. Throughout the late 1800s, they toiled in the grape fields, mines, hop farms, leather tanneries and laundries, and carved out neighborhoods in towns throughout the Valley. These contributions did little to deter discrimination and Anti-Chinese Leagues sprang up to harass and intimidate immigrants like Chan Wah Jack, who ran the successful Sang Lung store in Napa's Chinatown. In 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act hastened the decline of local Chinatowns and these once vibrant communities disappeared while the industries they helped to foster flourished. Join author John McCormick as he uncovers the forgotten contributions of the Chinese people in California's most famous wine region.

Army & Navy Academy

9781467137881

$24.99

Once a staple of American society, military schools are a dying breed, with fewer than thirty remaining. Historically, most military academies existed in the South and along the East Coast. However, Colonel Thomas A. Davis pushed this tradition westward when he founded the San Diego Army and Navy Academy in 1910. Davis pioneered a novel education and leadership training structure for young men that predated the Boy Scouts and JROTC Program. From this single institution sprang the Brown Military Academy, Davis Military Academy, San Diego Military Academy and more. Author Alexander Mui chronicles the endurance of this revered academy through countless trials, wars, economic depressions and the nationwide military school decline until it remained the last traditional military academy west of the Rocky Mountains.

Notable Southern Californians in Black History

9781626195813

$21.99

The contribution of Black men and women throughout the history of California is often overlooked because it doesn't easily fit into the established narrative. In Los Angeles, over half of the original settlers were of African descent. These settlers left New Spain for the northern frontier to escape the oppression of the Spanish caste system, just as the racially oppressive Jim Crow laws propelled a similar migration from the American South 150 years later. Pioneers and politicians, as well as entrepreneurs and educators, left an indelible mark on the region's history. Robert Lee Johnson offers the story of a few of the notable Black men and women who came to Southern California seeking opportunity and a better life for their families.

Notable Southern Californians in Black History

Covina

9780738555553

$24.99

Covina began as a coffee plantation carved out of Rancho La Puente, which John Rowland had purchased from California's Mexican government. Rowland later shared the land with his friend and partner William Workman, and after Rowland's death, his widow, Charlotte, sold 5,500 acres to Julian and Antonio Badillo, on which they attempted unsuccessfully to grow coffee. Joseph Swift Phillips purchased 2,000 acres of the Badillo land, subdivided the tract, and laid out Covina's town site. Covina came to grow, process, and ship eight percent of California's citrus, transforming into a farming community that was neither rural nor urban. Residents established cultural, social, and civic organizations, founded a scientific study group and a literary society, and even built an opera house.

Pasadena

9780738555676

$24.99

From its earliest years, the town of Pasadena has been richly endowed by nature. The abundant sunshine, dramatic mountains, and sparkling streams invited settlers to a near-paradise. Health seekers and wealth seekers arrived, amazed at the mild climate where just about anything would grow. Agriculture thrived, and Pasadenans loved the canyons and the wild edges of their community. Today Pasadena is a sophisticated city but still fringed with large natural areas: the Arroyo Seco on the west, Eaton Canyon on the east, and the San Gabriel Mountains to the north. Parks and native plant gardens preserve gems of nature within the city. Pasadena's natural history is not just a memory of the past but a living companion for the present.

Waterford

9780738574523

$24.99

Nestled where the San Joaquin Valley begins rolling into the Sierra Nevada foothills, Waterford is steeped in a rich history. From its scenic Tuolumne River corridor, early gold seekers and travelers in untamed central California forded the summer stream here or crossed swollen winter flows by ferry. Waterford was originally named Bakersville for founder William W. Baker, who arrived by covered wagon in the 1850s. The fertile soil provided good farming and prosperity for disillusioned gold seekers. When an ingenious gravity irrigation system was introduced in the 1890s, farms thrived, drawing families, businesses, and churches. Rowdy saloons briefly flourished before stalwart citizens drove them out. Waterford's brave first settlers, farmers, and businessmen made their marks here, and included such visionaries as the Rudi brothers, longtime meat purveyors whose Waterford offspring included Oakland A's baseball legend Joe Rudi.

Sanger

9781467130189

$24.99

The arrival of the railroad in 1887 brought rumors of Kings River Lumber Company's plan to build a flume for shipping lumber from the forest to the valley floor, and the town literally boomed overnight. Founded in 1888, Sanger officially incorporated in 1911 and was named in honor of Joseph Sanger, secretary of the Southern Pacific Railroad Yardmasters Association. In 1866, early pioneer Mary Jane Hazelton planted the area's first orange grove. Later, Harvey Akers established the first vineyard. In the 1920s, after many years of struggle, the lumber era came to a close and was replaced by agriculture. Packinghouses sprang up around Sanger, and area fruit was shipped around the country via the railroad.

Newport Beach

9780738582023

$24.99

Newport Beach, with its picturesque harbor and 10 miles of sandy beaches, has seen great change since its beginnings in the post-Civil War era. Originally a shipping port, it evolved into a haven for movie stars, rumrunners, and gamblers and finally transformed into today's exclusive beach community and popular vacation destination.

Indio's Date Festival

9781467134255

$24.99

Since the turn of the 20th century, Southern California's Coachella Valley has embraced a unique crop: the date. As success with the fruit grew, so too did regional celebrations of it. Beginning in 1921, the City of Indio hosted a Festival of Dates, an event that became the annual National Date Festival in 1947. The area linked itself to the date's birthplace, the Greater Middle East, in multiple ways, but the festival drew national attention to Indio's use of these Arabian fantasies. Attendees celebrated the fair's camel races, Arabian Nights musical pageant, Middle Eastern architecture, Queen Scheherazade pageant, and the costumes worn by boosters and visitors alike. While the United States' political and pop-cultural relationship to the region changed over time, the Eastern Coachella Valley continued to embrace fantasies of the Middle East at its fair.

Historic Tales of La Jolla

9781467135993

$21.99

The first settlers to arrive here in 1869 purchased 160 acres for two dollars and change. La Jolla attracted artists, architects, writers and scientists over the years, contributing to today's prized reputation as a valuable world-class destination. Their stories shaped the fascinating history of this seaside village. Pirates and smugglers hid out in Sunny Jim's Cave. Ellen Browning Scripps, the Godmother of La Jolla, founded institutions and recreation areas for not only La Jollans but also the rest of the world, including the famous Children's Pool and Scripps Institute of Oceanography. Theodor Geisel derived inspiration for his art from La Jolla's landscapes and people. Native La Jollan Patricia Daly-Lipe recalls the stories of these and many other people and places that have molded the village of La Jolla into a natural and cultural wonder.

Sacramento's Midtown

9780738546568

$24.99

As Sacramento's neighborhoods grew eastward from Fifteenth Street to Thirty-first Street (later Alhambra Boulevard), the area evolved into a complex mix of housing and businesses known as Midtown. Sutter's Fort was still popular, and community groups like the Native Sons of the Golden West restored its last remnants for future generations. In 1927, the city built Memorial Auditorium, a tribute to fallen soldiers, as a large central venue that continues to serve as an important setting for graduations, concerts, and conventions. The J and K Street business corridors expanded from downtown, and identifiable neighborhoods such as Poverty Ridge, Boulevard Park, and New Era Park developed as people settled and established businesses in these growing areas. Today's Midtown supports numerous Victorian mansions and Craftsman bungalows, as well as the legacies of such employers as the California Almond Growers' Exchange, California Packing Corporation, Buffalo Brewery, Sutter Hospital, and the Sacramento Bee newspaper.

Early Mill Valley

9780738530420

$24.99

Mill Valley rests in the shadow of Mount Tamalpais, the tallest peak of the Coast Range. Ancient redwood groves cloaking the mountain's flanks and nearby canyons attracted a pioneer sawmill that gave the town its name. As the timber industry was replaced by dairies, Mill Valley became a destination for those drawn to beauty: hikers, campers, naturalists, artists, writers, and dreamers who gave the town its early bohemian atmosphere. Tamalpais Scenic Railway once ran the "crookedest railroad in the world" to the summit, where passengers exulted in the taste of salty ocean winds, rolling fog, and stunning vistas of the inner bay and ocean shores. Pres. Theodore Roosevelt reserved some of the area's majestic trees, now national parkland webbed with 200 miles of scenic trails, and named them Muir Woods for naturalist John Muir.