Museum Collection
The museum collections include biological specimens and cultural history artifacts. The catalog currently holds collection information on 1,340 mammal, bird, invertebrate, insect, and fossil specimens and a herbarium of native and rare plants. The collections contain approximately 112,000 examples of material culture produced by the Coast Miwok tribes including arrow points; bone, stone, and obsidian tools; shell beads and stone mortars. An extraordinary collection of more than 700 late-sixteenth century blue- and- white Chinese porcelain sherds discovered at Miwok sites and found on Drakes Beach, provide evidence of two historic events – early European contact with coastal tribes and a sunken Manila galleon in Drakes Bay. Over 6,500 collection objects of historic and cultural value document one hundred and fifty years of dairy ranching and maritime services of the U.S. Coast Guard at the Lighthouse, Lifesaving and Lifeboat Stations on Point Reyes. Thousands of objects demonstrating the development of maritime radio technology are intact at the two historic Marconi/RCA radio stations within the park.
Archives & Library
The PRNS archives contain NPS and public documents, maps, drawings and photographs. The records trace the legislative history and planning documents of the park, beginning in the late 1950’s, and the administrative, environmental, and resource management of the Seashore since its establishment in 1962. The RCA maritime radio station collection includes over 200 linear feet of documents, books, photos, and maps related to its operations between 1914-1997. A growing collection of oral history interviews on tape explores lives and subjects of local interest. Local residents have donated small collections of personal papers, albums, correspondence, deeds, and photos.
The photograph collections consist of nearly 20,000 images including original and copy prints, aerials, slides and digital images. The photos date back to the 1860s depicting the development of local towns and ranching families, maritime history, the great1906 earthquake, and the North Pacific Coast Railroad era. Photos taken after the creation of the park in 1962 document the staff, visitor services and events, building and resource management projects, landscapes and historic structures, the park’s Morgan Horse Ranch, and Kule Loklo, a reconstructed Miwok village. The Seashore library holds a natural and cultural history reference collection, rare books, park reports and educational videos.
The museum, archives and library holdings support NPS staff, exhibits, and the Pacific Coast Learning Center. The collections are open to the public for research by appointment. The state-of-the art collections facility which opened in 2002 is located inside the historic Red Barn at the Seashore's Bear Valley entrance.
For inquiries about the collections please contact:
Archivist: Carola Derooy 415-464-5125 email
Curator: Kirsten Kvam 415-464-5218 email
Librarian: Amanda Tomlin 415-464-5100 x 5928 email
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