Sausalito Salty Stories
January 28, 2014
On January 28, 2014 over 100 sailing enthusiasts and history buffs enjoyed alively evening of Sausalito Salty Stories, at the beautiful Ondine,overlooking the Bay. This fundraiser for the Sausalito Historical Society's Sausalito Sets Sail project featured notable local sailors Hank Easom, Alan Olson, Bill Martinelli, Mary Crowley and Tony Badger who shared stories of racing, cruising, and rabblerousing. Surprise guests included Victoria Colella and Stuart Rabinowitsch performing an original Sausalito sea shanty; renowned yachtsman Warwick ("Commodore") Tompkins; and Tompkins' friend, legendary folksinger Ramblin' Jack Elliott.
Raffle prizes included gift certificates from local supporters Salito's, Angelino's, SF Bay Adventures, The Trident, F3, Spinnaker, Massage Envy, Inn Above Tide, Hotel Sausalito and Poggio.
Sausalito Sets Sail
Sausalito Sets Sail is the city's first self-guided walking tour along the Sausalito waterfront. It begins at the Ice House at 780 Bridgeway, and the six additional waterfront panels placed from Gabrielson Park south along the shoreline.
Through March 1, 2014 the SHS is hosting an associated exhibition of sailing related art and artifacts in the Society's Exhibit Room on the top floor of City Hall at 420 Litho Street. The art exhibition is open to the public Wednesdays and Saturdays, from 10am to 1pm. Admission to either installation is free. May 26, 2013
Caledonia Street Festival
May 2013
The Sausalito Historical Society partnered with Parks & Recreation to present a special exhibit at the Caledonia Street Festival to celebrate sailing in Sausalito. The display featured photos and content from our upcoming waterfront walking tour "Sausalito Sets Sail", a sampling of archival Sausalito magazines, and copies of "Moments in Time" (the SHS newsletter) dating back to our inception which detailed life and times in Sausalito over the centuries.
One of the highlight's was the raffle prize selected from our archive: a vintage poster depicting the Sausalito waterfront and hillside. Along with our publications and selected Sausalito memorabilia, information on our Schools Program was available as well as a kid's table with opportunities to learn and color varies types of sailboats.
2013 Annual Meeting and Presentation of "The Islands of San Francisco Bay"
May 14, 2013
Please join us for the annual General Membership meeting on Tuesday, May 14,
2013 in City Council Chambers at 420 Litho Street at 7 pm. We will be
reporting on the year's activities, answering members' questions, and
electing directors for the 2012-2014 term.
Keynote Speaker: James Martin, author of"The Islands of San Francisco
Bay," will present an illustrated talk on our nearby islands from a
historical perspective.
Five individuals have been nominated by the Nominating Committee, and a
biography for each is included with this letter: If elected, they will be
joining the continuing directors on the Board, who are Larry Clinton, Susan
Frank, Ann Heurlin, Bill Kirsch, Sharon Seymour, and Angela Wildman.
Additional nominations may be made at the meeting.
Back to the Trident
January 28, 2013
Special thanks to Gary Ferber Photography!
July 4, 2012 Sausalito 4th of July Parade
The Sausalito Historical Society was involved in all three of Sausalito's holiday offerings: the parade, picnic and fireworks show. The award-winning SHS parade entry celebrated several different decades of history. It showcased the Victorian era with a Penny-farthing, the 20's with a hand-built 1925 Bugatti racing car, and the 60's with a 1966 Mercedes-Benz, a 1967 Mustang and a cruising bicyclist costumed to celebrate the artists of that time period.
A special award was received for "best vintage car". Kids and adults alike enjoyed our booth at Dunphy Park's picnic. Kid's were invited to "Create Your Own Sausalito Flag", families enjoyed guessing "Who's Dunphy" for a prize of free admission to the Bay Area Discovery Museum, and a lucky winner was drawn for the raffle prize of a table for six to the evening's firework show.
Caledonia Street Festival
May 27, 2012
2012 Caledonia Street Fair Booth
The Sausalito Historical Society partnered with Parks & Recreation to present a special exhibit at the Caledonia Street Festival celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge. The historic display featured exclusive Dulce Duncan photos of the bridge’s construction, quotes from locals who worked on the bridge and original memorabilia from the 1937 Opening Day Fiesta. One of the highlight’s was the raffle prize: a rare, signed photo from Robert David, the official photographer of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District. Information on our Schools Program was available as well as a kid’s table featuring activities to “finish” the Golden Gate Bridge. A dozen visitors became new members of the Society.
Neil Davis Talk
January 31, 2011
On January 31, 2011 SHS members and guests enjoyed an informal talk by Neil
Davis, proprietor of the No Name bar during its heyday from 1959-1973. Neil
recalled many of the colorful characters who frequented the bar in those
days, including Sterling Hayden, Spike Africa, and the infamous Margo St.
James, who flew down from Washington State for the event. Watch for
announcements of an upcoming encore appearance by Neil.
Margo St James second from left front row.
Golden Gate - The Life and Times of America's Greatest Bridge
October 2010
The Society sponsored a book reading by Kevin Starr, California state
librarian emeritus, from his new book "GOLDEN GATE - The Life and Times of
America's Greatest Bridge," at Wellington's Wine Bar.
If you missed that event, you can still purchase the book at the Ice House.
Sausalito Then and Now Schools Program
April 2010
The Sausalito Historical Society spearheaded a program for two third grade classrooms, one at Bayside Elementary and one at Willow Creek Elementary. Historical Society docents visited the classrooms with specially prepared booklets about historic buildings in downtown Sausalito introducing the students to images of old buildings as they looked years ago and how they look now. A few weeks later, the same students enjoyed a field trip to Sausalito to study a building of their choice in person. This pilot program will continue in the Fall and Spring of next year.
The Marin Headlands
January 19,2010
A slide lecture program showing both vintage and present-day photographs from The Marin Headlands (Arcadia Images of America Series) was presented to SHS by author Dorothy Gibson.
Artistic Sausalito: A Historical Tour
November 6, 2009
Individual readers presented portraits of famous artists who had lived or worked in Sausalito in the 1940s and 50s. Held at the Julia Morgan designed Sausalito Woman’s Club. No-host bar and reception followed the program.
Treasure Hunt in Sausalito’s Downtown Historic District
September 14, 2009
Treasure Hunt teams following historic clues about Sausalito’s Downtown Historic District competed to solve historical puzzles. The fun was followed by a reception at Piccolo Teatro restaurant.
“Free Box” Exhibit
June 8, 2009- February 28, 2010
Photographer Bruce Forrester of Mill Valley chronicled the alternative houseboat community of the Sausalito waterfront during 1975-1980. His black and white photographs portray an iconoclastic lifestyle based on non-materialism, creativity, unfettered individuality and a strong sense of community.
A Trident Flashback: Annual Dinner & Auction
April 23, 2009
Horizon’s Restaurant (the Historic Trident)
Drinks, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, live music, remembrances and an auction celebrated
Houseboats of Sausalito Talk
January- March 2009
A series of illustrated talks was given by Larry Clinton and Richard Cunningham about the history of the Houseboats of Sausalito book by Phil Frank. Events were sponsored by the Anne T. Kent California Room, Marin County Civic Center, the Larkspur Heritage Preservation Board, and Sausalito Friends of the Library.
Literary Sausalito: A Historical Tour
November 5, 2008
A series of readings from writers who had lived in or written about Sausalito was presented by individual readers at the Julia Morgan designed Sausalito Woman’s Club. No-host bar and reception followed.
An Evening at Schoonmaker
October 19, 2008
Guests boarded the historic replica of a gaff-rigged scow schooner Gas Light in Schoonmaker Marina. Builder Billy Martinelli related his stories of sailing and boat building in Sausalito. In addition, Sausalito architect Michael Rex discussed the history and design of the Schoonmaker Buildings at Open Water Rowing. A reception followed the presentations.
Old Fort Baker
September 24, 2008
This was a fund raising event including a tour of Old Fort Baker followed by a Reception at Cavallo Point. Retired NPS ranger and historian John Martini led guests on a tour of the Old Fort, including the long-closed Battery Cavallo, built in the 1870s. A private reception was held on the second floor of Cavallo Point’s restaurant and bar with views overlooking the Golden Gate.
March 14, 2008-May 30, 2009
The Craig Sharp Photographic Collection Exhibit
Craig Sharp (1924-1994) was a professional Bay Area photographer who chose as one of his projects to document the Sausalito waterfront community of the 1970s. At the suggestion of his son Scott Sharp of Carlsbad, CA, the SHS Board agreed in 2007 to cooperate in the printing of 83 images from the original negatives, 36 of which were chosen for display in the exhibit.