An Introduction by Marianne Hurley, Architectural Historian,
California State Parks, Diablo Vista District
Perched on the bluff overlooking the river and the ocean, the town of Mendocino is not only classically picturesque, but it is also one of the best examples of a vibrant historic landscape where people carry on everyday lives amidst the delightful and enduring legacy of the 19th century.
The overall harmony of the streetscapes and the consistency of the historic townscape have their roots in the foresight of the citizens who in 1971 placed this town on the National Register of Historic Places. One of the earliest district nominations in California, this helped preserve and acknowledge the importance of Mendocino, a place that figured importantly in the development and the economy of the Redwood coast following statehood.
Most historic districts in this country consist of small sections of a larger more developed city, but historic Mendocino is the town itself and this creates a dynamic that is evident as one walks the streets. While visitors come to enjoy the historic townscape, the residents are also using the post office, the library, the school, and the grocery store. Even the more recent additions seem at home and do not detract from the character and feel of this once bustling lumber mill town.
The pathways, the hills, the empty lots, the orientation of the town, all ground us in the present while at the same time transport the visitor and resident alike to an earlier time when towns were walk-able and human in scale. The views both near and far are composed of vernacular, yet sophisticated buildings, water tanks, cemeteries, dirt paths, overgrown vegetation, and colorful gardens all set amidst the rocks, cliffs, ocean, and the mouth of the river. Whether familiar with the town, or a new visitor, the historic landscape will reward those who take the time to appreciate this rich and diverse landscape.
Marianne Hurley is a district historian for California State Parks, previously working as an environmental planner (architectural historian) with Caltrans. Hurley is a graduate of the University of Oregon (M.A., 1998) with a background in American architectural history and historic preservation. She also worked for a preservation architecture firm in San Francisco where she gained valuable experience surveying and researching historic structures.