Tammy Durston

The Sonoma Mendocino coastline, famous for jagged cliffs, timber-filled ridges, and pounding surf, has been home to many people from varying histories and backgrounds. Pomo tribes, renowned for basketmaking, who were the first settlers and descendants, still live in the area. From early pioneers such as George Call, H.A. Richardson, Cyrus Robinson, J.A. Hamilton, and Antonio Stornetta to Pomo spiritual leader Essie Parrish and the founders of Sea Ranch (Al Boeke, and the team of designers and architects Lawrence Halprin, Charles Moore, William Turnbull, Donlyn Lyndon, and Richard Whitaker), the Sonoma Mendocino coast has many legendary locals. This area also has been home to renowned artists, musicians, writers, scientists, educators, and business leaders. Community services are especially vital to rural areas. Dedicated volunteers created Gualala Arts, services for seniors and youth, the Coast Library, theater groups, and restored historic buildings such as the famous Point Arena Lighthouse. These unsung heroes have brought new meaning to this vibrant community.

California

Legendary Locals of the Mendonoma Coast

Steve Oliff

Annapolis--a hidden jewel of a community--is tucked into the timber-filled ridges above the jagged northern Sonoma coastline. Undeterred by the steep, mountainous terrain and rugged living, early settlers were first lured to the area by the timber. They quickly discovered Annapolis had perfect weather for apple farming. At the beginning of the 20th century, almost every farm had apples, and apple dryers dotted the hills. The wild Gualala River, known for Coho salmon and steelhead trout, is 32 miles long and flows through the Annapolis area before meeting the Pacific Ocean. Early Native American Pomo tribes settled along this important river, which eventually served as a boundary between Sonoma and Mendocino Counties.

Annapolis and the Gualala River

"The Lost Coast is one of the last undeveloped stretches of the California coastline, with mountains that rise thousands of feet from the sea. Located approximately 200 miles north of San Francisco, this remote area of pristine beauty is comprised of jagged cliffs, rocky shorelines, and black sand beaches. It is the only significant stretch of California without a highway. Rich in natural resources, the area was once a haven for Native Americans such as the Coast Yuki, Sinkyone, Mattole, and the Wiyot. Now it is a secluded landscape with a few isolated towns surrounded by conservation areas. The famed Lost Coast Trail begins in northern Mendocino County in the Sinkyone Wilderness and continues up into Humboldt County and the King Range National Conservation Area. During the 1800s, the Lost Coast bustled with logging settlements and mill towns. After logging wound down, those towns disappeared, and only remnants of their existence remain. From Westport north to Ferndale, this book showcases historical photographs from libraries, historical societies, and residents." -- From cover

Tammy Durston

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