Novato in Marin County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Chosen Family

November 1967 - August 1969

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 9, 2022

1. The Chosen Family Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Five families who chose to live together leased Olompali hoping to create a Utopian community. They shared communal chores and established a Summerfield-Waldorf school for the children.

This cement slab was poured May 1968. It was set up with commercial mixers and a baking oven that could bake 300 loaves at a time. The Chosen Family and The Diggers gave away the bread in the San Francisco Panhandle where free food was passed out.

The slab was also used as a stage for impromptu parties where members of The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and other local musicians would jam.

Erected by California State Parks.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Education • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1967.

Location. 38° 9.117′ N, 122° 34.305′ W. Marker is in Novato, California, in Marin County. Marker can be reached from Redwood Highway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8901 Redwood Highway, Novato CA 94945, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this

The Chosen Family Marker and cement slab image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 9, 2022

2. The Chosen Family Marker and cement slab

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marker. Setting for a Colorful Past (within shouting distance of this marker); Cook House (within shouting distance of this marker); Try-Pot (within shouting distance of this marker); Burdell Frame House (within shouting distance of this marker); Olompali State Historic Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Burdell Mansion (within shouting distance of this marker); Camilo Ynitia’s Adobe (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Galen and Mary Burdell (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Novato.

More about this marker. The marker is located in Olompali State Historic Park, between the parking lot and visitor's center.

Also see . . .
1. A conversation with Noelle Olompali-Barton (YouTube, 6 min.). A Sacramento Bee-produced interview with Noelle Olompali-Barton on the Chosen Family commune at Olompali. (Noelle Olompali-Barton was a member of the Chosen Family, and can be seen on the back of the Aomoxomoa record cover (see Photo 3, on the very right, just behind the two other females)). (Submitted on March 10, 2022.)

2. Olompali: A Hippie Odyssey Official Trailer (2019) | Gregg Gibbs Documentary (YouTube, 2.5 min.). Trailer for the 2020 documentary on the Chosen Family, includes numerous photos and video of the Olompali commune. (Submitted on March 10, 2022.)

Grateful Dead <i>Aoxomoxoa</i> record, back cover photo.... image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Thomas Weir (courtesy of Warner Bros. Records), 1969

3. Grateful Dead Aoxomoxoa record, back cover photo....

Showing the members of the Grateful Dead and entourage, as well as several members of the Chosen family posing in front of an oak tree at Olompali.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 10, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 10, 2022, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 101 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 10, 2022, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.