Great Moments in West Marin History
GOODBYE TO THE MURPHY RANCH ERA — ANNE AND JESSICA MURPHY WITH ROANIE AND SARA AT THE HISTORIC HOME RANCH IN THE POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE, 1989
In 1929, the Murphy family acquired 11,000 acres of the Point Reyes Peninsula from Julia Shafter Hamilton, whose family established the historic Home Ranch in the 1800s. With the creation of the national seashore, the family leased back 3,000 of these acres, which became known locally as the Murphy Ranch. Since the mid-1970s, Anne Murphy was a partner in operating the cattle with her husband, Scott, and father-in-law, Lee. Anne remained the last purveyor of these lands as members divorced, moved away or died. In 2003, the McDonald-Lucchesi Cattle Co. bought the cattle and acquired the agricultural lease. Anne stayed on the ranch with a residential lease for 20 acres, renewing annually. She was best known in those years for horse and dog boarding and mentoring youth in sustainable living.