Lagunitas in Samuel P. Taylor Park in Marin County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Paper Mill Dam and Fish Ladder

January 2, 2026

1. Paper Mill Dam and Fish Ladder Marker

Inscription. On this spot, in 1887, the first fish ladder of its kind on the Pacific coast was designed and built by Stephen Schuyler Stedman, a Marin County pioneer. It was located on the end of the Samuel P. Taylor paper mill dam. Duplicates were later built in the states of California, Oregon, Washington.

Plaque placed by his daughter, Berta Stedman Rothwell, in cooperation with the California State Park Commission on March 15, 1959.

Erected by California State Park Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Man-Made Features. A significant historical year for this entry is 1887.

Location. 38° 1.608′ N, 122° 44.195′ W. Marker is in Samuel P. Taylor Park, California, in Marin County. It is in Lagunitas. It is on Cross Marin Trail, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lagunitas CA 94938, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area,

in the North Coast,

and specifically on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North

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America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Pioneer Paper Mill (approx. ¼ mile away); Marin French Cheese Company (approx. 7.8 miles away); Drakes Bay (approx. 8 miles away); Smiley's Schooner Saloon (approx. 8½ miles away); Calvary Presbyterian Church (approx. 8.6 miles away); Site of Birds Nest Glen (approx. 8.8 miles away); The Log Cabin (approx. 9.8 miles away); Novato Cemetery (approx. 10 miles away).

Photographed by Rover Spotts, January 2, 2026

2. Paper Mill Dam and Fish Ladder Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 3, 2026, by Rover Spotts of San Francisco, California. This page has been viewed 39 times since then. Photos: 1. submitted on January 9, 2026. 2. submitted on January 3, 2026, by Rover Spotts of San Francisco, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.