Sausalito Historical Society — Ice House Museum
Historic · 780 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965
Verified September 2026
A small museum on Bridgeway, in a building with its own odd backstory, covering Sausalito's run from Miwok village to Gold Rush ferry stop to WWII shipyard to the houseboat and bohemian scene it's known for now. The Ice House began as a railroad cold-storage car in the 1890s, later sold ice in town, and got saved from demolition when the city bought it for $1 in 1998. The Historical Society turned it into a museum in 1999, on ground where a passenger railroad served the ferry landing from 1871 to 1907. It's a quick stop, but it's the fastest way to actually understand the town you're walking around.
What To Expect
The museum runs in the old Ice House building and covers Sausalito's history in a handful of small rooms. A central case holds stone tools and projectile points from the Coast Miwok, and the displays go on to the Portuguese, Chinese, and English immigrant communities, the ferry and rail era that put the town on the map, and the Marinship shipyard that built cargo ships during WWII. The houseboat community that grew out of surplus shipyard scrap after the war gets its own corner. Well-known Sausalito figures such as Jack London, Sally Stanford, and Richard Diebenkorn get short profiles, and an interactive video screen plays short vignettes about people and places from the town's past. The Historical Society also runs its Secret History walking tour, about 90 minutes and capped at 10 people, on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month, starting right from the museum's front door.
Getting There
Right on Bridgeway in the middle of downtown, at 780 Bridgeway on the corner of Bay Street, and an easy walk from the ferry landing. It folds neatly into a stroll along the shops and galleries. There's no dedicated parking, so use one of the downtown municipal lots or metered street spots nearby and check the posted rates. The building also serves as the town's visitor center, which means the front desk can point you toward a map and a few ideas if you arrive without a plan.
Good To Know
Open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free, and there's a gift shop at the desk. The walking tour starts at 10:30 a.m., runs from $20 per person, covers roughly a mile of flat, wheelchair-accessible ground, and is booked through Eventbrite. Reserve ahead, since the small group size fills fast. The museum is compact, so allow 20 to 30 minutes on your own.
Our Take
Do this before the houseboats, not after. Knowing that Issaquah Dock grew out of leftover WWII shipyard lumber changes how you look at it, and a quarter hour here saves you from being the tourist who thinks the floating homes are just quirky real estate. If your trip lines up with a 2nd or 4th Saturday, book the walking tour first and treat the museum as your warm-up.