TO MOST PEOPLE IT'S JUST SAM'S
But the place’s namesake was a short, stocky man who was said to have the eyes and smile of a merry bulldog, and the prowess of a bowery bootlegger.
Circa 1920
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ABOUT MAIN STREET
Sam's is located in the heart of Main Street among all the other older historical buildings. Although all are, of course, up to code, a close look at many will reveal a hundred years of folklore and folly. The glory days were drinking days and the town was filled with saloons.
If the walls could talk, oh what stories they'd tell!

MCNEIL BUILDING
First structure on water side of street. Saloon, pool hall, boat leasing, and apartments. Compass rose decoration added to upper facade during Town weekend paintup in 1955. Located at 15 Main Street.
Circa 1886
See map item #3

ANDERSON MEAT MARKET
First butcher shop erected 1891. Purchased by H. D. Anderson, a New Yorker, in 1898. Store survived at this location for more than 50 years. Building burned to ground in the great fire of 1921 and was re-erected. Renovated in 1960s with ornate false front, an example of Victorian embellishment. Located at 32 Main Street.
Circa 1921
See map item #5

BEYRIES GENERAL STORE
Original 1900s two-story structure with grocery on first floor and Tiburon Hotel above destroyed in 1921 fire. Upper story rebuilt from whole sections of hotel saved from fire. Ballustrade salvaged from author Jack London's Sonoma residence. Food market operated until 1955. Upstairs lodging with separate stairs reportedly a bordello in past times. Located at 34 Main Street.
Circa 1921
See map item #6

SALOON
Another Main Street saloon with access to the Bay for bringing in illegal spirits, safeguarded by concrete sidewalls. Building had varied use until 1970 when bakery opened. Located at 35 Main Street.
Circa 1925
See map item #7

WATERFRONT BAR
The original small saloon was next door to an old-fashioned drugstore/soda fountain complete with marble top counter and swivel stools. After the pharmacy moved in 1954, the waterfront bar enlarged to become a bar/restaurant with nautical South Seas decor including Gauguin-style paintings. Located at 41 Main Street.
Now private residences and Ginza Sushi
Circa 1930
See map item #8

BANK BUILDING
Brick structure originally branch of Bank of Sausalito. Branch closed in 1935. Property sold to first owner of Sam's Cafe who made daily deposits of liquor to bank vault, a convenient locker for his nearby bar.
Located at 55 Main Street.
Circa 1925
See map item #9

ABOUT ARK ROW
The rest of Main Street is known as Ark Row.
The name recalls the 1890s recreational
houseboat lifestyle enjoyed in Belvedere Cove by sea captains, bohemian artists, and summer residents
from San Francisco. In winter, houseboat dwellers
anchored arks in the lagoon. After 1900, craze for arks waned. Some docked along lagoon shorelines and converted to permanent local housing. Part of filled-in lagoon became parking lot behind the shops .

FLEMING ROOMING HOUSE
Mid-1880s structure affixed to pilings here early 1900s. The landlady, Mrs. Fleming, lived in apartment on first floor and rented rooms to Northwestern Pacific trainmen checked carefully "for their good character." Outside spiral gingerbread staircase added in 1956.
Located at 72 Main Street on Ark Row.
Circa 1918
See map item #10

THE ARK
Typical ark of 4 rooms and kitchen. Dwelling 90% original with flat roof, bead and reel molding and slender Corinthian columns. Another intact houseboat "The Double Ark" at 116 Main has unusual arched roof and four fine Corinthian capitals. Visible remains of tar and planks indicate lower level once an ark.
Located at 104 Main Street on Ark Row.
Circa 1895
See map item #11

COTTAGE
Secret staircase led to hidden cupboard between floors for safekeeping of illicit liquor. To escape revenuers, the rumrunners, tipped off to a raid, exited by the back door to boats on lagoon.
Located at 112 Main Street on Ark Row.
Circa 1890
See map item #12

COTTAGE
Served as artists' studio. Possible 1927 residence of Selden Connor Gile (1877-1947), important California landscape painter and leader of the "Society of Six," a group of California impressionists.
Located at 120 Main Street on Ark Row.
Circa 1890
See map item #13

RANCH BUILDING
Oldest building on Ark Row. Former shed on a Tiburon Peninsula ranch. Salt box construction later addition. U.S. Centennial (1876) wallpaper uncovered.
Located at 122 Main Street on Ark Row.Circa 1890's
See map item #14

MAIN STREET DRAWBRIDGE SITE
Several different style drawbridges have linked Tiburon's Main Street to Belvedere's Beach Road until 1930s. Story has it that the raising of the drawbridge for arks and boats to go from winter harbor on lagoon to summer fun on Cove began the tradition of "Opening Day on the Bay," a spring parade of ships. Circa 1880's
See map item #15

SOCIAL SALON OF THE S.S. CHINA
Belvedere Landmark 001. "The China Cabin." Actual
Victorian drawing room of a passenger and cargo sidewheel steamer that plied between San Francisco, Japan and China. Salvaged before the fire when the ship was burned for scrap metal in Tiburon Cove 1886. Saloon barged to Belvedere Cove beach. Served as a residence for 90 years, before restoration as a maritime museum by the Landmarks Society. Open 1-4, Sunday, Wednesday, April-October. Available for private gatherings. Located at 52 Beach Road. Circa 1866
See map item #16

OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
Don't miss the opportunity to visit these other historical places around town. All are within a few minutes walk or aboard the local Ferry.

LYFORD TOWER
National Register of Historic Places
Round sandstone edifice, reminiscent of castle keep, erected by Dr. Benjamin Lyford as Southern gateway to "Lyford's Hygeia", a planned town site and health spa. First subdivision on the Tiburon Peninsula. Tower affords a view of Racoon Straits across to Angel Island, looking NE to Berkeley Hills and SW to the Golden Gate. Located on Paradise Drive.
Circa 1889
See map item #16

TRAIN AND FERRY TERMINAL
Passenger and freight depot of the San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad, later the Northwestern Pacific. In recent years named "The Donahue Building" for the railway's founder. Built of redwood with board and batten siding, Victorian style window trim. North exterior and roof original. Concrete caissons and piles, remnants of 300 foot pier, seen at low tide. Building will be used as railroad and ferry museum by the Belvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society. Located at 1920 Paradise Drive.
Circa 1884
See map item #2

ELEPHANT ROCK
Natural landmark just offshore in downtown Tiburon. Probably named for its size and form viewed from water. On a chart of 1850, "Pulpeti de Padre" (Father's Pulpit) may refer to Elephant Rock. Favorite fishing spot officially designated for the young & young-at-heart.
See map item #17

RAILROAD PALM/DEPOT PALM
The NWPRR was noted for gardens and palm trees around its main buildings and passenger depots. Town required developers of Point Tiburon complex to preserve this palm. Marker placed by Heritage and Arts Commission in 1988 to show location of railroad yard. Circa 1923
See map item #18

CORINTHIAN YACHT CLUB
White frame building is second clubhouse. A wall remains from original 1886 structure which burned. One of 2 yacht clubs in Tiburon. Private. Please view from street.
Circa 1912
See map item #19

SAN FRANCISCO YACHT CLUB
The oldest west coast yacht club in North America. Sponsor of AmericaTrue, an entry in America's Cup 2000. The other yacht club in town.
Private. Please view from street.
Circa 1869

GALLOWS FRAME MONUMENT
A gallows frame is a mechanical device which adjust wharf tracks to the same level as the tracks on the barge allowing transfer of railroad cars to continue despite changes in the tides. Originally stood at the waterfront near intersection of Paradise Drive and Main Street. Dismantled in 1974. Heritage & Arts Commission designed monument and marker.
Circa 1992
See map item #20

OLD ST. HILLARY'S
Former Roman Catholic Mission Church for railroad families. Redwood New England-style structure, separate bell tower. Area is home to rare plants and flowers. Owned by Landmarks Society. Used for private weddings and other events. Open 1-4 Sunday, Wednesday, April-October. Located at 201 Esperanza Street.
Circa 1888
See map item #21

ANGEL ISLAND STATE PARK
An enchanting Island with spectacular vistas, hiking & biking trails and historic sites: Ayala Cove--ancient Coast Miwok Indian ceremonial site and 1775 anchorage for the Spanish ship, San Carlos, commanded by Lt. Juan Manuel de Ayala, first European surveyor of the Bay. Fort McDowell--WWII Pacific troop embarkation point. Immigration Station--main portal of entry for Asian immigrants first half of 20th century. Reached by Angel Island Ferry Service, operated by the McDonough family for three generations from 21 Main Street.
See map item #22

LYFORD HOUSE
Victorian residence built by Dr. and Mrs. Benjamin Lyford at Stawberry Point. House barged to present location in 1957. National Audubon Society acquired house and adjacent property, 1961. Open Sundays, November-April, 1-4 p.m. (A beautiful 2.6-mile walk along Richardson Bay past Blackie's Pasture on path that traces the former railroad trackbed. By car from Main Street approximately 3.2 miles to Greenwood Beach and left .3 mile to Audubon Sanctuary.)
Located at 376 Greenwood Beach Road.
Circa 1876
See map item #23