Red Barn at Bear Valley Road: An Historical and Architectural Evaluation

Levy, Benjamin

Point Reyes National Seashore is a 71,028-acre park preserve located on the Point Reyes Peninsula in Marin County, California. As a national seashore, it is maintained by the US National Park Service as an important nature preserve. The following report is based on data gathered from September 5-8, 1967. Pursuant to Historical Resource Study PORE-H-1, approved June 23, 1967. The study calls for both a historical and architectural analysis of the Red Barn. As such, the structural assessment Is an essential part of this report and is included as Exhibit No. 2. This report concerns the Red Barn. The Red Barn is a reconstructed structure which dates from at least 1906. It was very probably constructed a decade before and may even date back to the period 1867-70. It was damaged by the earthquake of 1906, repaired immediately and underwent minor repairs until the early 1940s when it was thoroughly rehabilitated. The latter work consisted of shoring up the structure, providing it with a concrete floor and foundation replacing and changing the style of the weatherboarding, replacing the shingle roof with sheet metal. The basic silhouette and form of the barn was not altered. About 1954 the structure, which was formerly white, was given its red color. The Red Barn was used primarily for storage of feed and the actual feeding of beef cattle and, perhaps, horses. It may have been employed to a small degree as a milking barn, but only incidentally.

Red Barn at Bear Valley Road: An Historical and Architectural Evaluation

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