Stewart Ranch: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Point Reyes National Seashore
Regions 8, 9, 10, & 12 Park Cultural Landscapes Program. 2012. Stewart Ranch: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Point Reyes National Seashore. Cultural Landscapes Inventory Report. 725199. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. NPS Pacific West Regional Office, San Francisco, California / CRIS-CL Database
Inventory Unit Description: Stewart Ranch is an approximately 890-acre ranching property that is located in the geographic center of the Olema Valley. The ranch is situated primarily within the North District of Golden Gate National Recreation Area, but a small western portion that includes the ranch core is located in Point Reyes National Seashore, west of Highway 1. Stewart Ranch consists of rolling, grassy hills with wooded gulches, facing the forests of Inverness Ridge across Olema Creek to the west. It is bounded on the north by the Truttman Ranch, on the east by Jewell ranch and private property, on the south by the Lupton/Five Brooks Ranch, and on the west by Olema Creek. The ranch complex, headquarters for the Stewart's beef cattle ranch and horse boarding and breeding facility, is the largest in the Olema Valley and consists of structures old and new. The Stewart family has owned the ranch since 1924. The property retains its original ranch core, which is located adjacent to the east bank of Olema Creek between the creek and State Highway 1. Although most of the ranch buildings are located on the west side of the highway, some corrals and a large concrete water tank occur on the hill slopes east of the road. Stewart Ranch is one of 19 ranches within the Olema Valley/Lagunitas Loop Ranches Historic District that were collectively 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. Stewart Ranch operated without interruption as a dairy ranch for over 114 years until its conversion to horse boarding and cattle ranch in 1974. It 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.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Regions 8, 9, 10, & 12 Park Cultural Landscapes Program
- Date of Issue
- 2012-03-22
- Publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
- Units
- GOGA , PORE , PWR
- Keywords
- agriculture, architecture, barn, beef cattle ranch, Cabristo Hill, commerce, dairy ranching, exploration-settlement, family-owned ranch, fenceline, Garcia Ranch, Grade A Dairy, historic vernacular landscape, horse boarding, Laurelwood Creamery, Olds Woodside Ranch, ranch headquarters, ranching landscape, Rancho Tomales y Baulines, stable, vernacular architecture, water storage tank
- Subjects
- CRIS-CL: 725199: Stewart Ranch