M Ranch: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Point Reyes National Seashore
Regions 8, 9, 10, & 12 Park Cultural Landscapes Program. 2004. M Ranch: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Point Reyes National Seashore. Cultural Landscapes Inventory Report. 725481. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. NPS Pacific West Regional Office, San Francisco, California / CRIS-CL Database
Inventory Unit Description: M Ranch is an approximately 1,192-acre vernacular ranching landscape located northwest portion of the Point Reyes Peninsula in Point Reyes National Seashore. M Ranch is operated by the Domenico and Grossi families as a beef cattle ranch. The ranch is bounded on the northwest by H and L Ranches, on the northeast by portions of Tomales Bay State Park, on the southeast by N Ranch, and on the southwest by G Ranch and Rogers Ranch. The spine of Inverness Ridge crosses through the ranch from the northeast to the southwest. The M Ranch complex is located within small valley, protected from prevailing winds off of the Pacific Ocean and located near natural swales and seasonal streams that lead east towards Schooner Bay. M Ranch is surrounded by rolling hills, composed primarily of grassland. M Ranch appears today much as it did during the period of significance of 1857 to 1956 when the ranch was initially developed by Captain Henrik Claussen for Oscar and James Shafter and Charles Webb Howard as part of the tenant-operated dairy ranch system on the peninsula. This period encompasses the construction of the major developments at the ranch including the roads, structures, fencelines, and landscape vegetation. The historic core of M Ranch includes the feed barn, Grade A dairy, horse barn, old milking barn, and fences and corrals. The ranch core has undergone some modifications since the period of significance, especially with the conversion from dairy to beef cattle production. However, the general organization, function, and feel still remain within the ranch core. Spatial organization, land use, vegetation, circulation, buildings and structures, and cluster arrangement are contributing landscape characteristics of the vernacular ranching landscape. M Ranch is locally significant under Criteria A, B, and C and retains integrity according to the National Register of Historic Places’ standards, which define integrity through the aspects of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. Overall, the landscape is in good condition.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Regions 8, 9, 10, & 12 Park Cultural Landscapes Program
- Date of Issue
- 2004-09-15
- Publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
- Units
- PORE , PWR
- Keywords
- agricultural field, agriculture, architecture, barn, beef cattle ranch, commerce, corrals, dairy ranching, Domenico/Grossi Ranch, exploration - settlement, fencelines, Grade A dairy, Henrik Claussen, historic vernacular landscape, livestock, ranching communities, ranching landscape, vernacular architecture