The Floyd Russel Family History Room

Mapping the Land

January 19 - June 23, 2013 / Curated by Elia Haworth

Mapmakers seek to engage both art and science to tell the story of a particular time and specific place in a snapshot called a map.

                                                                                             Joseph Kinyon

 

These maps of Marin County tell stories of land, layered cultures, family stories and evolving technology. The large 1869 map by George Dodge includes Native American place names, vast Mexican land grants and fledgling towns and school districts. Fredrick E. Olmsted's 1915 map is marked with the trails and distances of a local hiker.  There is a startling 2002 3-D map by a young woman scientist Sun Min Lee.  Perhaps most significant is the MALT map by Joseph Kinyon 2012. This map is a testimonial to an extraordinary accomplishment by the vision and tenacity of activists, legislators and thousands of ordinary citizens who, despite powerful opponents in big industry and government, managed to preserve two-thirds of Marin County as parks, open space or farmland.


Marin County’s history is entwined with San Francisco’s history so it is appropriate that
in the middle of this exhibit, between maps of the early history and maps from our contemporary life, there is a map of California from the last year before the Golden Gate Bridge opened connecting Marin County and San Francisco and forever changing this county.

 map

Driver's map before the Golden gate Bridge, when crossing the bay depended on regular ferry service.