Muir Woods National Monument
Also known as: Muir Woods National Monument Historic District
Why it's listed
Muir Woods National Monument occupies Redwood Canyon at the foot of Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, California. The nominated area covers 428 acres and includes the old-growth redwood forest, Bohemian and Cathedral Groves, a historic trail system along Redwood Creek, memorials, and buildings, structures and objects built before World War II in a rustic style. William Kent and Elizabeth Thacher Kent gave the land to the United States in 1907, and President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed the monument on January 8, 1908. Additional Kent gifts expanded it in 1921 and 1935. The period of significance runs from 1907 to 1947, covering the first decades of federal ownership, when the site was adapted to rising visitation under a consistent rustic design approach and became known as a symbol of American conservation. It ends with the 1947 installation of a memorial to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Later additions and some alterations are outside the nominated area or have affected details but not overall character.
Significance in brief: The monument was created in 1908 from land donated by William and Elizabeth Thacher Kent and was among the early national monuments under the Antiquities Act. The nomination argues it embodies early American conservation ideals and the National Park Service's rustic design approach in its first four decades of federal management. It also has memorials tied to key figures in the conservation movement.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 07001396, listed January 9, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Muir Woods Rd., Mill Valley |
|---|---|
| County | Marin County |
| Listed | January 9, 2008 |
| Reference number | 07001396 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1907-1947 |
| Architectural style | Other: rustic; Moderne |
| Areas of significance | Conservation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Administered as part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area and a popular tourist attraction with over 750,000 annual visitors; some historic features such as comfort stations, CCC footbridges and benches have been removed. |
| Acreage | 427.8 |
| Coordinates | 37.90003, -122.58491 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 07001396.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q99522841
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.