Mill Valley is a town rich with history — some of it quirky, some of it surprising. Here are a few facts you may not know about one of our favorite towns.
Hail to the Chief
One of the most famous Coast Miwok, Chief Marin, was born into a tribe called Huimen, in Mill Valley about 1781. General Mariano Vallejo named the county after him in 1850. A plaque commemorating Chief Marin’s birthplace is located on the southeast side of Locust Avenue near Walnut Avenue.
What’s in a Name
John Thomas Reed, arrived in 1826, eventually named the town Mill Valley in honor of his saw mill, located at what is now Old Mill Park.
Land Grab!
On May 31, 1890, 3,000 people attended a land auction held near Reed’s crumbling sawmill in Old Mill Park. Over 200 acres were sold that day alone, valued at $300,000.
Gravity Star
Incorporated in 1896, the Mount Tamalpais Scenic Railway was the most famous attraction in the world.
Run Ladies Run
The first Women’s Dipsea “Hike” was held on April 21, 1918. Nearly 150 women started the event, which was called a hike, to avoid an Amateur Athletic Union ban on women racing.
Movie Time
The recently reopened Sequoia Theater opened in early 1929 at 25 Throckmorton Avenue as a single-screen theater with 1,200 seats.
