From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Anderson Marsh State Historic Park is a California State Historic Park. It is located at the formation of Cache Creek on the southeast corner of Clear Lake, the largest natural lake completely within the borders of California. It is between Lower Lake and Clearlake on State Route 53, north of Calistoga in the wine country.^[1] Open year-round,^[2] the park contains 1,065 acres (4.3 km²) of grass-covered hills, oak woodland, and tule marsh. It protects several habitats including, freshwater marsh, grasslands, oak woodland, and riparian woodland. Water and land wildlife include: large mouth bass, bluegill, catfish, crappie, the northwestern pond turtle, bats, gray fox, frogs, garter snakes, mink, muskrats, opossums, raccoon, river otter, skunks, and toads.^{[3 ]}

History

One of the largest groups of people in prehistoric California, the Southeastern Pomo, lived in this area, and their descendants continue to do so nearby. Anderson Marsh's archaeological sites provide artifacts of the Pomo. Some sites are among the oldest in California, dated at over 10,000 years old.

John Grigsby homesteaded in 1854 with his family, and built a small house.^[4] Scotsman John Still Anderson, with his wife and six children, bought the property from Grigsby in 1884, built what is now known as the Ranch House, and ran a dairy and raised beef cattle. Their descendants lived in the Ranch House until the 1960s.

The State Historic Park was named after John Still Anderson in 1982 after the State of California acquired the Anderson Marsh.^{[3 ][4][5]}

Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association

AMIA was formed in 1984 by park staff and other volunteers. The primary objectives of the association are to promote the education and interpretive activities of this park. AMIA also funds projects including: conservatory work, construction, interpretive displays, facilities and historical objects rehabilitation, interpretive items purchase, acquiring furnishings, trail maintenance, and providing written interpretive information.

Visitor attractions

Bird watching
Approximately 151 different species have been identified at this park.^[6]
Exhibits/Programs

• Ranch House: Shown by guided tour; example of early California life.[2]
• South Barn Interpretive Room: Group presentations. [3]

Festivals

• Bluegrass Festival, Second week-end in September

Trails
The park has miles of hiking trails. Two trails that lead along the wetter parts of the park include: Cache Creek Trail and the Marsh Trail. Two trails that lead along drier areas include: Ridge (oak woodland) and Anderson Flats (grassland).^[7]

Proposed for closure

Anderson Marsh State Historic Park is one of the 48 California state parks proposed for closure in January 2008 by California's Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as part of a deficit reduction program.^[8]

Books

• Anderson, John Still, & Dickson, J. D. (1878). Decisions in the Court of Session from 1800 to 1878 in cases concerned with the agriculture of Scotland. Edinburgh: W. Blackwood and Sons.
• California. (1975). The fish and wildlife resources of Anderson Marsh, Clear Lake, Lake County. [Sacramento, Calif.]: State of California, Dept. of Fish and Game.
• California. (1984). Anderson Marsh project and proposed natural preserve proposed primary historic zone. Sacramento.
• California. (1989). Anderson Marsh State Historic Park general plan. [Sacramento?]: State of California, the Resources Agency, Dept. of Parks and Recreation.
• California. (1996). Anderson Marsh State Historic Park. Sacramento, CA: California State Parks.
• Scholz, S. (1997). An interpretive trail guide to the natural features of Anderson Marsh State Historic Park. Clearlake, CA: The author.
• Scavone, K. (1999). Anderson Marsh State Historic park: a walking history, prehistory, flora, and fauna tour of a California state park. [s.l.]: Bradford Creek Publishers.

Videography

• White, G., Fredrickson, D. A., Thomas, D., Fredrickson, V.-M., Levinson, B., Thomas, T., & Huffman, M. (1994). Sharing the neighborhood for 5000 years the people of the lake and the uplands. [Sacramento]: California Dept. of Transportation.
• Howser, H. (2001). California's gold. #3001, Clear Lake. [Los Angeles, Calif.]: Huell Howser Productions.

References

External links

• Anderson Marsh State Historic Park is at coordinates 38°55′25″N 122°37′30″W / 38.923574°N 122.625116°W / 38.923574; -122.625116 (Anderson Marsh State Historic Park)Coordinates: 38°55′25″N 122°37′30″W / 38.923574°N 122.625116°W / 38.923574; -122.625116 (Anderson Marsh State Historic Park)
• Undated photo of oak tree at Anderson Marsh
• Official web site
• Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association