Burleigh H. Murray Ranch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Burleigh H. Murray Ranch |
|
|---|---|
Mills Barn
|
|
 Burleigh H. Murray Ranch
Location in California
Burleigh H. Murray Ranch
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | San Mateo County, California, USA |
| Nearest city | Half Moon Bay, California |
| Area | 1,325 acres (5.36 km2) |
| Established | 1979 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
The Burleigh H. Murray Ranch is a special place in California where you can explore nature. It is part of the state park system in the United States. This beautiful valley ranch is located in San Mateo County, not far from Half Moon Bay. The ranch first started in 1857. It became a park in 1979, covering about 1,325 acres. The State of California bought it in 1983.
You can walk along an old ranch road that follows Mills Creek. This trail starts from the parking area. After about a mile, you will see a 1930s house. This house is a bungalow and serves as a home for park staff. The valley gets narrower as you go further. It is surrounded by steep hills covered in chaparral plants. You can walk for another mile past the old Mills Barn and water tanks. After that, the trail becomes harder to follow. It gets covered by thick plants like stinging nettles, poison oak, and coyote brush.
Ranch History
Burleigh H. Murray was born on this ranch on July 19, 1865. His father came to California from Vermont during the California Gold Rush. He first worked as a miner in Auburn. In 1857, Burleigh's father settled on this land. He started a very successful dairy farm here.
The Mills Barn
The Mills Barn is a very old building located next to Mills Creek. It is an English-style bank barn. This means it is built into the side of a hill. The barn is kept in good condition, but it has not been fully rebuilt. It is the only building of its kind in California. The foundation of the barn and other buildings uses special masonry techniques. These methods came from Italy and date back to the Roman Empire. The barn was once about 200 feet long. It could hold up to 100 dairy cows.
Images for kids
-
Mills Barn
