Tomales Presbyterian Church and Cemetery
Why it's listed
Built in 1868 at a cost of $3,500, this white frame church in Tomales, Marin County, replaced an earlier building that burned just before its planned dedication in 1866. It measures 53 by 35 feet, with a bell tower above the front narthex and mock pillars framing the entrance. Inside, the redwood pews, pulpit chairs and lectern have been kept, and the bell is thought to be the one bought for the first church. A Fellowship Hall was added in 1958 without altering the original structure. Next to the church lies a Protestant cemetery opened about 1864 by early settler Warren Dutton and deeded to the congregation by his descendants in 1944. The church is recorded as the oldest Protestant church building in Marin County, and it survived the 1906 earthquake and two fires that damaged Tomales. Many local pioneers are buried in the cemetery, and descendants remain among the congregation. The property covers about two acres.
Significance in brief: The church is described as the oldest Protestant church building in Marin County, replacing a first church that burned just before its 1866 dedication. The church and cemetery are tied to the history of Tomales, an early intensively developed agricultural area in northern California. The cemetery holds many of the community's pioneers.
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 75000437, listed August 1, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 11 Church St., Tomales |
|---|---|
| County | Marin County |
| Listed | August 1, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75000437 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific dates: cemetery 1864, church 1868) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (reviewer's write-up notes, partly illegible) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in religious use; a Fellowship Hall was added in 1958 and the congregation had 82 members in 1975. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 38.24531, -122.90717 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
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 75000437.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7818237
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.