Mill Valley Historical Society

09/14/2026

“𝙏𝙬𝙤 𝙋𝙞𝙫𝙤𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝘼𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙖 𝙑𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮” with Peter G. Meyerhof
Wednesday, October 2nd at 6:30 pm
𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆
Mill Valley Public Library, Creekside Room
375 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley ***********************************************
Recent research has revealed the fascinating lives of two almost forgotten Native Americans, most likely Coast Miwok, who lived in the Sonoma Valley in the 19th century. We know them only by their baptized names; Viviano and Vicente Carrillo. Viviano was one of the very few Native Americans who was given a small grant of land by the Sonoma Mission. He planted grapes on this property in 1832, becoming the earliest private owner of a vineyard north of the Bay. Vicente Carrillo also adapted to changing cultures as a soldier under General Vallejo, and later a longtime ranch manager under an American pioneer. He remained a headman of his tribelet on this extensive property, living into the 20th century.
𝗣𝗘𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗚. 𝗠𝗘𝗬𝗘𝗥𝗛𝗢𝗙 is a retired dentist and cell biologist. He has published articles in many fields. For several decades, his passion has been researching the early history of California, particularly Sonoma County. His research has taken him to libraries and archives across the country in order to find new primary sources relating to a variety of subjects. He is on the board of the Sonoma Valley Historical Society and other historical societies.
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𝗡𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲. Registration at https://millvalleylibrary.libcal.com/event/16668275?register
For more information, 415-389-4292 or [email protected]
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Photo of Vicente Carrillo, c. 1900, courtesy of the Sonoma Valley Historical Society.

08/10/2026

“𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲” with David Perlis
Wednesday, September 2nd at 6:30 pm
𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆
Mill Valley Public Library, Creekside Room
375 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley ***********************************************
Between World War II and the 1980s, Marin County became the unlikely epicenter of a cultural awakening, one whose reverberations would be felt across the country and around the world. In his new book 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣: 𝙕𝙚𝙣, 𝘿𝙧𝙪𝙜𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙀𝙬𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩, David Perlis delivers the first comprehensive narrative history of this awakening—what he calls the "Marinaissance." In this talk, Perlis will delve into the early figures and cultural influences of this movement, which would give rise to 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳 𝘞𝘢𝘳𝘴, the Grateful Dead, Alan Watts, and much more, seeding a creative revolution that would script the American imagination for generations.
𝗗𝗔𝗩𝗜𝗗 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗟𝗜𝗦 lis a writer, musician, and filmmaker from Marin County, California. For nearly a decade he co-hosted the late night talk show 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 on WFMU. He has worked for the New York Public Library and the American Museum of Natural History. He now lives in Corrales, New Mexico. 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣 is his first book.
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𝗡𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲. Registration 𝗥𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗗 at https://millvalleylibrary.libcal.com/event/1666827
For more information, 415-389-4292 or [email protected]
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07/20/2026

“𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗮𝘂𝗿: 𝟱𝟬 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟲𝟬 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀” in conversation with Larry Carlin
Wednesday, August 5th at 6:30 pm
𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆
Mill Valley Public Library, Creekside Room
375 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley ***********************************************
Maria Muldaur is best known world-wide for her 1973 hit “Midnight at the Oasis,” which received several Grammy nominations. Her 60+ year musical career could best be described as a long and adventurous odyssey through the various forms of American Roots Music. She has recorded 44 albums and has been nominated for a Grammy seven times. Originally from Greenwich Village in NY City, Maria has been here in Mill Valley for 50 years, and she will talk about her musical life as well as her many decades of living in Mill Valley.
𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗬 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗜𝗡 longtime player, producer, and promoter of country and bluegrass music in Marin County, has more than 50 years of experience in the music business as a musician and writer.
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There are currently just a few places left. If fully reserved by the time you go to the link, 𝙋𝙇𝙀𝘼𝙎𝙀 𝙍𝙀𝙂𝙄𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙏𝙊 𝙍𝙀𝙎𝙀𝙍𝙑𝙀 𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝙎𝙋𝘼𝘾𝙀 𝙊𝙉 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙒𝘼𝙄𝙏 𝙇𝙄𝙎𝙏.
𝗡𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲. Registration 𝗥𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗗 at https://millvalleylibrary
For more information, 415-389-4292 or [email protected]
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06/12/2026

"𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘀 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗮: 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗪𝗮𝘀 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴" with Dr. Rob Elias
Wednesday, July 1st at 6:30 pm
𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆
Mill Valley Public Library, Creekside Room
375 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley ***********************************************
While baseball still regards itself as the National Pastime, football and basketball have provided strong competition for at least 40 years. But especially between the 1890s and 1950s, baseball was king in America. Not merely the most popular sport for both fans and players alike, to most people--baseball was America. It represented the nation's values and helped assimilate waves of new immigrants. The baseball craze extended far beyond the professional leagues, down to the local level. Virtually every U.S. town had its own baseball team comprised of adult amateurs. Town rivalries were fierce, ballgames were a major entertainment, and local residents flocked to support their local clubs. Mill Valley and other Marin towns were no exception. The history of small-town baseball is a sports story but also a unique glimpse at American culture in days gone by.
𝘿𝙍. 𝙍𝙊𝘽 𝙀𝙇𝙄𝘼𝙎 is Emeritus Professor of Politics at the University of San Francisco and the Editor of the Mill Valley Historical Society Review. He’s taught at USF, Cal-Berkeley, McGill, Tufts, Penn State, and U. Maryland. He’s the author/editor of a dozen books, including six baseball books: Baseball & the American Dream, Baseball Rebels, The Empire Strikes Out, Major League Rebels, The Deadly Tools of Ignorance, and the Seymour Medal winning book, Dangerous Danny Gardella. He’s lived in Mill Valley for 35 years.
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SEATING IS LIMITED! 𝙋𝙇𝙀𝘼𝙎𝙀 𝙍𝙀𝙂𝙄𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝘼𝙎 𝙎𝙊𝙊𝙉 𝘼𝙎 𝙋𝙊𝙎𝙎𝙄𝘽𝙇𝙀 𝙏𝙊 𝙍𝙀𝙎𝙀𝙍𝙑𝙀 𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝙎𝙋𝘼𝘾𝙀.
𝗡𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲. Registration 𝗥𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗗 at https://millvalleylibrary.libcal.com/event/16668271
For more information, 415-389-4292 or [email protected]
************************************************ Photo - 1930's baseball team at Boyle Park

05/19/2026

"𝐒𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐓𝐒," the 47th Annual Walk into History on Sunday May 24th, looks at the evolution of the baylands in the Sycamore area from 1770 to 1970. You'll see the changing landscape: from Miwoks and marshes to ranchos and dairy farms to residences and parks.

𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 start at Marin Theater's patio, 397 Miller Avenue, between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm. Tickets ($25 for MVHS members / $30 for non-members / Free for under 18) https://www.tickettailor.com/events/millvalleyhistoricalsociety/2191454

𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐝𝐬' 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 includes history-themed activities drawn from the Walk such as an "archeological dig," some "farming" and "building", old-fashioned neighborhood games, snacks and prizes. This program takes place at Sycamore Park from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Register https://www.mvhistory.org/sycamore-park-childrens-history-activities/

Thanks to 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 for hosting our starting location on their patio at 397 Miller Avenue, and for providing discount code MVHS26 for tickets to "PICTURES FROM HOME" playing until May 31st and including a 2:00 pm matinee on Sunday, May 24th.

05/14/2026

"𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗟 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗦 𝗨𝗦" with Harvey Smith and Matt Cerkel
Wednesday, June 3rd at 6:30 pm
𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆
Mill Valley Public Library, Creekside Room
375 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley ***********************************************
Upon taking office in 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt unfurled a constellation of federal programs that offered jobs, housing, hope and security to Americans struggling through the Great Depression. In under a decade, (1933-1942), FDR’s New Deal put 20 million people to work in cities, towns and rural areas nationwide. Workers for new “alphabet soup” agencies such as the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps), WPA (Works Progress Administration), RFC (Reconstruction Finance Committee), FAP (Federal Art Project) and many more, built city halls, bridges, schools, post offices, libraries, community centers, water treatment plants, hospitals, parks and a portfolio of public art.
The New Deal's imprint on the lives and landscape can be seen to this day—if you know where to look!
Join historians Harvey Smith and Marin Municipal Water District Ranger Matt Cerkel for a virtual tour of the New Deal that still surrounds and connects us—from Treasure Island, to Mill Valley, to Mount Tamalpais.
𝙃𝘼𝙍𝙑𝙀𝙔 𝙎𝙈𝙄𝙏𝙃 is Project Advisor to the Living New Deal, a nonprofit founded at UC Berkeley that is engaged in the monumental task of documenting all that the New Deal left to America. The Living New Deal has catalogued thousands of New Deal public works and artworks for an interactive online map, along with photographs, films, research and personal stories of those whose lives were touched by the New Deal. The website, livingnewdeal.org has become a premier source for history, biographies, bibliographies and news. Harvey is author of "Berkeley and the New Deal” and a former teacher with the Oakland School District.
𝙈𝘼𝙏𝙏 𝘾𝙀𝙍𝙆𝙀𝙇 grew up in Marin County, graduating from Redwood High School in 1989. He started working on Mount Tam in 1991 during his summer break from the University of Idaho, where he graduated with a B.S. in Wildland Recreation Management from the U of I’s College of Forestry. He has served as a Park Ranger with Marin Water since 1995 and currently serves as Senior Park Ranger.
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SEATING IS LIMITED! 𝙋𝙇𝙀𝘼𝙎𝙀 𝙍𝙀𝙂𝙄𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝘼𝙎 𝙎𝙊𝙊𝙉 𝘼𝙎 𝙋𝙊𝙎𝙎𝙄𝘽𝙇𝙀 𝙏𝙊 𝙍𝙀𝙎𝙀𝙍𝙑𝙀 𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝙎𝙋𝘼𝘾𝙀.
𝗡𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲. Registration 𝗥𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗗 at https://millvalleylibrary.libcal.com/event/16668270
For more information, 415-389-4292 or [email protected]
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05/12/2026

𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗞𝗜𝗗𝗦' 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗠!
𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟰, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆
This year's annual 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 features a very special program designed just for children under 12. There will be four different history-based activities drawn from themes from the "From Sloughs to Streets" Walk, with creative crafting, a little digging in dirt, fun games, "archeological" finds, and snacks!
We'll be holding it in beautiful Sycamore Park at 28 Park Terrace. It'll be a great way to spend a Sunday and make a Memorial Day weekend the kids are sure to remember.
Bring your kids, your neighbors' kids, your grandchildren and nieces/nephews to learn about Mill Valley history while having outdoor fun! All 94941 residents under 12 welcome free of charge.
𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘: https://www.mvhistory.org/sycamore-park-childrens.../
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𝗩𝗢𝗟𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗥𝗦
If you like playing with young people and teaching them to love Mill Valley history, join us on Sunday May 24 10:00-1:00 to help set up and oversee our four activity tables. Teens and young adults are particularly welcome to join us. Email [email protected] to volunteer today!

05/04/2026

JOIN US FOR THE 2nd ANNUAL MILL VALLEY HISTORY BIKE RIDE
Saturday, May 9, 2026 - three departures:
9:00 - 11:00 am
12:00 - 2:00 pm
3:00 - 5:00 pm

The Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC) is hosting this fun and informative 8-mile history ride through Mill Valley! This easy, flat ride is perfect for ages 12 and up, with a slow group pace and frequent stops to explore the rich history of the area. Each group will have a maximum of 15 cyclists.

Led by local cyclist "Mill Billy" Charlie Vogelheim, you'll learn about:
local geography
the Coast Miwok people
origin of the ranchos and town
historic railroad routes
local legends and famous residents
the Camino Alto tunnel

Planned stops include: Old Mill, Cascade, Blithedale Hotel, Miller Grove, City Hall, Depot Plaza, and Tam High. Riders must be comfortable biking in a group at a relaxed pace.

Bring: Helmet, water, snacks.

Weather Policy: We cancel in the event of rain.

To Reserve Your Free Spot: https://marinbike.org/event/mill-valley-history-ride/

04/13/2026

"𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗶𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗻" with Phil Cassou and Phil Maslin of the Belvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society
Wednesday, May 6th at 6:30 pm
𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆
Mill Valley Public Library, Creekside Room
375 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley ***********************************************
Spanish Explorers named Punta de Tiburon in 1775. One hundred years later, due to its proximity to San Francisco, Point Tiburon became a major railroad and ferry terminus. In 1884, Peter Donahue, Irish immigrant and industrial tycoon, extended the San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad to Tiburon, with a ferry fleet to provide faster passenger and freight service between San Francisco and northern California. Eventually the Donahue Line merged with competitors to become the Northwestern Pacific Railroad, a subsidiary of the Southern Pacific Railroad. The last train left Point Tiburon September 25, 1967.
Phil Cassou and Phil Maslin, true locals, have lots of stories and photos portraying how rural Tiburon became a hub for railroad and maritime activities. You'll see a Tiburon, not that long ago, but "bustling" in a different way...and you'll get a real feel for the history of the Belvedere-Tiburon Peninsula.

𝙋𝙃𝙄𝙇 𝘾𝘼𝙎𝙎𝙊𝙐 is a longtime leader of the Belvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society, having served as President across multiple terms and currently as Vice President. He has also been the Curator of the Landmarks’ Railroad & Ferry Depot Museum for nearly three decades. In recognition of his preservation work, he received the Town of Tiburon Heritage Preservation Award in 2014. A retired IBM and AT&T executive, Phil later served on the Board of Directors of Lexmark International, including as Board Chairman. A 41-year Tiburon resident, his interests include sailing, historic railroads, electronics, and classic automobiles.
𝙋𝙃𝙄𝙇 𝙈𝘼𝙎𝙇𝙄𝙉 was born and raised in the Bay Area spending most of his early years in Berkeley, ultimately attending UC Berkeley, majoring in Electronics Engineering. Phil’s career spanned from Lawrence Berkeley and Livermore Laboratories to the semiconductor capital equipment industry in Silicon Valley, retiring in 2008. When not working Phil had several avocations including singing with the San Francisco Symphony Chorus for eleven years, hiking, model rail-roading, and serving as a docent at the Belvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society’s Railroad & Ferry museum in Tiburon.
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SEATING IS LIMITED! 𝙋𝙇𝙀𝘼𝙎𝙀 𝙍𝙀𝙂𝙄𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝘼𝙎 𝙎𝙊𝙊𝙉 𝘼𝙎 𝙋𝙊𝙎𝙎𝙄𝘽𝙇𝙀 𝙏𝙊 𝙍𝙀𝙎𝙀𝙍𝙑𝙀 𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝙎𝙋𝘼𝘾𝙀.
𝗡𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲. Registration 𝗥𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗗 at https://millvalleylibrary.libcal.com/event/16668114?register
For more information, 415-389-4292 or [email protected]
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Photo courtesy of the Belvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society

04/13/2026