Some say it's the horses that saved Horse Hill.
COAST MIWOK
Archeologists have found evidence of Native American Coast Miwok camps in this area. Nearby marshlands provided the people with fish and edible plants.
SPANISH LAND GRANT
In 1834, José Figueroa, governor of Alta California, granted 7,845-acre Rancho Corte Madera del Presidio to European settler John Reed. In 1836, Reed married Hilaria Sanchez, daughter of the commandant of the Presidio.
TENANT DAIRIES
The children of John Reed inherited the property, which was leased to tenant dairy ranchers. A dairy census for 1935 through 36 recorded 113 cows on the ranch, producing milk and other products sold in San Francisco.
POST WWII DEVELOPMENT
In 1961, Marin Capital Company proposed to build 900 homes on Alto Bowl, and 1,200 apartments on Horse Hill. The plans were turned back by strong local opposition led by resident Aline McClain, an early advocate for open space preservation. In 1982, different developers again proposed building homes on the property. This project was stalled when the City of Mill Valley declared a building moratorium.
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP
In 1974, the Marin County Regional Park District purchased 18 acres in this area. Another purchase in 1985 added 19 acres. When the City of Mill Valley building moratorium expired in 1988, a Save Horse Hill Committee raised donations from 5,000 people, to help buy the remaining 34 acres on Horse Hill. The property was sold for $2.4 million, contributed by the Marin County Open Space District (MCOSD), the City of Mill Valley, the Marin Community Foundation, and the thousands of local citizens. MCOSD acquired an additional 16 acres in 1990.
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