John Muir National Historic Site
National Historic Site of the in Martinez, California. Built 1964. Added to the National Register in 1966, and a National Historic Landmark.
.jpg/960px-A_part_of_the_John_Muir_National_Historic_Site%2C_the_Martinez_Adobe_was_built_in_1849_by_the_family_for_whom_the_town_of_Martinez_(d322550e-b83f-6b1b-dcd8-531619a07216).jpg)
.jpg/960px-Cones_of_the_Giant_Sequoia_at_John_Muir_National_Historic_Site_(b9526d79-9393-47e2-a9bf-7508fe5da3e3).jpg)
.jpg/960px-Giant_Sequoia_at_John_Muir_National_Historic_Site_(3c550703-ca39-4a91-9873-e132c1fa8760).jpg)
.JPG/960px-Giant_sequoias_cloned_from_the_Muir_Sequoia_(a2a3dbf3-e488-494c-a562-2064b53ad87d).JPG)
What it is
The John Muir National Historic Site is located in the San Francisco Bay Area, in Martinez, Contra Costa County, California. It preserves the 14-room Italianate Victorian mansion where the naturalist and writer John Muir lived, as well as a nearby 325-acre tract of native oak woodlands and grasslands historically owned by the Muir family. The main site is on the edge of town, in the shadow of State Route 4, also known as the "John Muir Parkway."
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Building |
| Address | 4202 Alhambra Ave., Martinez, CA |
| County | Contra Costa County |
| Listed | Oct 15, 1966 |
| Listed for | Agriculture, Conservation, Literature, Science, Architecture, Social history |
| Level of significance | National |
| Reference number | 66000083 |
| Built | 1964 · more from the 1960s |
| Type of place | National Historic Site, historic house museum |
| Visitors per year | 19,000 |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark, California Historical Landmark |
| Contributing resources | 3 buildings, 1 structure, 1 site |
| Standing | Yes |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | 4202 Alhambra Ave., Martinez, CA |
| Website | nps.gov/jomu/index.htm ↗ |
| Coordinates | 37.9913° N, 122.1313° W · Directions ↗ |
| Nearest national park unit | John Muir National Historic Site · 1 mile · on Park Atlas |
| Federal campgrounds nearby | Aquatic Park Cove, Black Point Overnight Anchoring, Sailing Vessels Only (Auxiliary Engine Ok) 20 miles · Kirby Cove Campground 22 miles · Rob Hill Group Campground 23 miles |
Explore
Drawings & photographs
Measured drawings and photographs from the Library of Congress. Public domain. All 2 records ↗
Map
Nearby in Contra Costa County
.JPG/960px-Tucker_House_(Martinez%2C_CA).JPG)
.JPG/960px-Martinez_City_Library_(Martinez%2C_California).JPG)
Local history books for Contra Costa County
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- East Contra Costa CountyCarol A. Jensen and East Contra Costa Historical Society, 2007Find at Bookshop.org
Guidebooks to historic places in California
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was John Muir National Historic Site listed on the National Register?
Oct 15, 1966. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
When was John Muir National Historic Site built?
1964.
Source: Wikidata
Can I visit John Muir National Historic Site?
Yes. John Muir National Historic Site is recorded as open to the public, and hours are on the official website. About 19,000 people visit each year.
Source: Official website
Where is John Muir National Historic Site?
4202 Alhambra Ave., Martinez, Contra Costa County, California. The nearest national park unit is John Muir National Historic Site, 1 mile away.
Source: John Muir National Historic Site
What does the John Muir National Historic Site listing include?
The listing counts 5 contributing resources. Those are 3 buildings, 1 structure, and 1 site. A contributing resource is a part of the listed property that carries its historic significance.
Source: National Park Service
Are there historic photographs or drawings of John Muir National Historic Site?
Yes. The Historic American Buildings Survey at the Library of Congress has drawings or photographs of it.
Source: Library of Congress
Where is the nomination form for John Muir National Historic Site?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Are there campgrounds near John Muir National Historic Site?
Three federal campgrounds are within reach. The closest is Aquatic Park Cove, Black Point Overnight Anchoring, Sailing Vessels Only (Auxiliary Engine Ok), 20 miles away. Kirby Cove Campground is 22 miles away, and Rob Hill Group Campground is 23 miles away.
Source: Campsite Atlas
Is there cell service at John Muir National Historic Site?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 66000083. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA. Drawings and photographs are Historic American Buildings Survey records at the Library of Congress, public domain.