Sausalito

As the years continued, Sausalito’s unique location became as much a character in the city’s story as the people. It was only two short miles from San Francisco, but with no bridge, it was in fact more than a hundred miles for wagons forced to travel around the entire bay by land. Since boats could sail there in about a half hour, the isolated city became the home to two classes of people, the working class fishermen, and wealthy yachtsmen.

In the 1870s the North Pacific Coast Railroad arrived, making Sausalito a transit hub. A rail yard and ferry to San Francisco were created. No longer as isolated, Sausalito became a choice location for wealthy San Franciscans who built comfortable summer homes in the hills. A colony of British citizens grew in the town, with a fleet of British-owned square-rigged ships anchored in the bay just off shore.

A new chapter in the city’s story opened during the prohibition era, from 1920 to 1933. Location again played a key role: the city was just isolated enough from San Francisco, but had perfect access to water travel to make it a choice spot for bootleggers and rum runners.

The city’s story changed yet again in 1937, when a new character, the Golden Gate Bridge, came on the scene. The bridge connected to Highway 101, which bypassed downtown Sausalito. Large-scale ferries were no longer needed. The city’s traffic went from a constant flow to merely a trickle. Car ferry service ended in March 1941, although passenger ferries continue running to this day. In addition, the Northwestern Pacific Railroad closed its terminal the same year.

It wasn’t long before Sausalito was hopping again, however, after the United States entered World War II, a new chapter unfolded. Two forts in the area, Fort Barry and Fort Baker, were used to house troops. A major shipyard was constructed in Sausalito, with 20,000 workers working around the clock to build and launch more than 90 ships during the era. To honor the city for its contribution to the war effort, a Tacoma-class frigate was christened the USS Sausalito in 1943. Ironically, the ship was not built in Sausalito, but in Richmond, across the bay to the east.

At the war’s end, the shipyards were abandoned, and in their place a thriving arts community blossomed along the waterfront. Sausalito became home to musicians, dancers, writers, painters and sculptors; a tradition that continues today. In the 1960s the bohemian community attracted many hippies to the town.

Houseboat communities became popular during that time, providing less expensive housing for artists and others. The floating communities were threatened during a protracted battle in the 1970s called the “House Boat Wars”, pitting waterfront residents against wealthy developers. Three houseboat communities exist today, and walking tours of the houseboats are popular with tourists.

The on-going narrative of Sausalito continues to be a fascinating one, drawing people from around the world. The character and charm of the beautiful enclave will continue to entertain and enchant those who take interest in its story.