The Point Reyes area is one I have loved since I was a teenager and first visited it on a couple field trips while in High School shortly after it came into existence in 1966 as a "National Seashore" park. My high school biology teacher Bob Stewart left our school to help run the Point Reyes Bird Observatory and he went on to become one of the premier naturalists and biologists of the region. It is one of my favorite places in California. I've visited it many times (but never enough!) and taken my kids there since they were young. Somehow I never ran into Bob Stewart while visiting. He should probably be in this book but he isn't.

This book is primarily one of historic photographs but contains a surprising amount of written information. I learned bits of early history of the region I didn't know and of course wanted to know more about many things. For an introduction to the history of the area this would be a good start. Then go visit the Bear Valley Visitor's Center for the Pt Reyes National Seashore and visit some of the beaches and hiking trails. The Point Reyes National Seashore was created when President Kennedy signed off in September 1962. His planned visit did not come to pass. There is not very much recent history in this book and there is actually some stuff that could have been left off. There was quite a bit of information on pioneer dairy ranchers in the area. I would have preferred a longer book.

Did I say I love this place? I do. ( )