Sausalito Historical Society — Ice House Museum
Historic · 780 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965
Verified September 2026
A small museum at the corner of Bridgeway and Bay Street 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. 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 rooms — Coast Miwok life before European contact, the ferry and rail era that put the town on the map, the Marinship shipyard that built cargo ships during WWII, and the houseboat community that grew out of surplus shipyard scrap after the war. The Historical Society also runs its "Secret History" walking tour — 90 minutes, 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, easy to fold into a walk along the shops and galleries. There's no dedicated parking — use one of the downtown municipal lots or metered street spots nearby.
Good To Know
Open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. The walking tour runs about $20 per person, covers roughly a mile of flat, wheelchair-accessible ground, and is booked through Eventbrite — worth reserving ahead since the small group size fills fast.
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. Fifteen minutes here saves you from being the tourist who thinks the floating homes are just quirky real estate.