Mountain Theater: An Exhibition of Stonework
Mountain Theater in Marin County, CA, is one of the finest examples of Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) rockwork in the country. Located on the southeast flank of Mt Tamalpais, the amphitheater can accommodate an audience of 3,750. Construction began in 1929 and was completed in 1940, and the project was funded through Roosevelt's New Deal. National Park Service Landscape Architect Emerson Knight served as project supervisor, although today the theater is managed by CA State Parks as part of Mt Tamalpais State Park.
While not a trail, the stonework of Mountain Theater exemplifies the craftsmanship of CCC work seen on trails around the country. This is truly monumental architecture that will endure for hundreds- if not thousands- of years. It's amazing what you can accomplish with 11 years and ample public funding.
Mountain Theater under construction in 1935. Note the dog at the worksite.
Mountain Theater under construction in 1935.
Mountain Theater under construction in 1935.
Indeed, the stewardship of Mountain Theater has become a multi-generational project. Sections have been repaired and rebuilt over the years by California State Parks and the California Conservation Corps. Around 2015, State Parks and California Conservation Corps crews built an ADA access trail and rebuilt some retaining walls on the lower end of the amphitheater above the pit.
While epic and impressive, the existence of Mountain Theater should also be considered carefully in its context. Mount Tamalpais is considered sacred by the Coast Miwok people, who have inhabited the area for millennia (the name "Tamalpais" comes from the Miwok language). Coast Miwok consider the mountain a powerful place that should only be visited with humility and respect. While I couldn't find any Miwok opinions on Mountain Theater specifically (if anyone else does, please let me know), it seems reasonable to have some mixed feelings about its existence on a sacred mountain.
The theater is largely built with serpentinite, a stone that is beautiful but also laced with naturally-occurring toxic asbestos. In a way, the stone represents the theater itself: beautiful, but also encapsulating a darker element within.
Mountain Theater offers a stunning backdrop of the San Francisco Bay and the City in the distance.
