Giacomini Ranch: Cultural Landscape Inventory park report, Point Reyes National Seashore, National Park Service
Owens E, Bennett A, Brown D, Suarez D, Biscombe J. 2011. Giacomini Ranch: Cultural Landscape Inventory park report, Point Reyes National Seashore, National Park Service. Cultural Landscapes Inventory Report. 725014. NPS Pacific West Regional Office. Pacific West Regional Office/CLI Database
The Giacomini Ranch is an approximately 614‑acre ranching property that is located in central Olema Valley. The ranch is situated primarily within the North District of Golden Gate National Recreation Area, but a small western portion is located in Point Reyes National Seashore, west of Highway 1. The property is managed by Point Reyes National Seashore. The ranch encompasses the west facing slopes of the valley with Bolinas Ridge at the eastern property boundary and is bordered by Lupton/Five Brooks Ranch on the north and Randall Ranch on the south. The ranch core, made up of a cluster of buildings, sits on one of the few flat areas of the property, surrounded by rolling hillsides used as grazing land. The ranch historically supported a dairy operation, but functions as a cattle ranch today. Gaicomini Ranch is one of 19 ranches within the Olema Valley/Lagunitas Loop Ranches Historic District that was determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The Historic District was determined significant at a local‑level under Criteria A and C with a period of significance from 1856 to 1961. Under Criterion A, the district is significant for its small and medium‑sized family owned farms and ranches, most of which emphasized dairy production. Under Criterion C, the district is significant for its excellent examples of local rural vernacular architecture, especially dairy building types. The period of significance covers roughly a century, beginning with the initial American settlement of the area in 1856 and extending to 1961 when the federal government authorized the creation of Point Reyes National Seashore. This period encompasses the major development of the roads, buildings, structures, fence lines, and delineation of pastures within the district. Giacomini Ranch operated without interruption as a dairy ranch for over a century until its conversion to a cattle ranch in 1972. The ranch appears today much as it did during the period of significance and retains its historical integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. The Giacomini Ranch complex contains seven contributing buildings organized around a historic utility yard, including the Main House, Creamery, Old Milking Barn, Wood Shed, Carriage House, Horse Barn, and Grade A Dairy. Along with these buildings and structures, the ranching character of the Giacomini Ranch is still evident in the following landscape characteristics: natural systems and features, spatial organization, land use, vegetation, circulation, and small scale features. Based on the evaluation of these characteristics, Giacomini Ranch exhibits key patterns, relationships, and features that convey the historical significance of the district. Overall, the landscape is in fair condition.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Owens, Erica; Bennett, Amanda; Brown, Dan; Suarez, Debra; Biscombe, Jason
- Date of Issue
- 2011-09-08
- Publisher
- NPS Pacific West Regional Office
- Units
- PORE , PWR
- Keywords
- Agriculture, Barn, Blake Ranch, Cattle Ranch, Coast Miwok, Commerce, Dairy Farm, domestic, Exploration, Garcia Ranch, Historic Vernacular Landscape, Industrial Production Processes, Lagunitas Loop Ranches Historic District, Livestock, Muscio Ranch, Nelson Olds Ranch, Olema Valley, ranches, Ranching Communities, Rancho Tomales y Baulines, residential, Settlement, Single Family Dwelling, technology, The Farmers' Frontier, Vernacular architecture, Westward Expansion
- Subjects
- CRIS-CL: 725014: Giacomini Ranch