A Historic Landmark Designed for Community
Shortly after the Outdoor Art Club was founded in 1902 by 35 visionary Mill Valley women, its members commissioned a clubhouse that would reflect their values of nature, beauty, and community. Designed in 1904 by Bernard Maybeck, one of California’s most influential architects, the Clubhouse is a classic example of Arts and Crafts architecture. It thoughtfully integrated with its surroundings and crafted to inspire gathering and connection. Funded by member-raised shares and completed for just $3,315, the building stands as a testament to vision, collaboration, and purposeful design.
Today, the Outdoor Art Club Clubhouse is a California Historical Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Still very much alive in its original purpose, it continues to serve the community as a warm and welcoming gathering place and is available for public rentals, linking more than a century of history with present-day celebrations and civic life.
Founded in 1902 by 35 visionary Mill Valley women, the Outdoor Art Club began as a bold effort to protect local redwoods and champion the preservation of natural beauty. Early projects included building a school playground and garden, providing shelter, food, and clothing for victims of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, and sponsoring and housing Mill Valley’s first public library. Over time, the Club expanded its reach by supporting land conservation efforts such as Audubon Canyon Ranch, planting trees across more than 30 acres of El Dorado National Forest, conserving the Corte Madera tidelands, and helping save the Butterfly Trees of Muir Beach. Today, we continue this legacy by protecting open spaces, supporting the arts and civic engagement, and connecting people with nature and one another.
The Outdoor Art Club Legacy
