Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre facts for kids
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Mountain Theatre
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Jefferson Airplane performing at the Fantasy Fair
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| Full name | Sidney B. Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre |
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| Location | Mount Tamalpais State Park, Marin County, California |
| Seating type | Open-air |
| Capacity | 4,000 |
| Opened | 1913 |
The Sidney B. Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre, also known as the Mountain Theatre, is a special outdoor stage. It is located in Mount Tamalpais State Park in Marin County, California. This open-air venue can hold up to 4,000 people. It is a popular spot for plays and music concerts.
History of the Mountain Theatre
Since 1913, Mount Tamalpais has been a place for outdoor plays. These shows are called "Mountain Plays." They happen in a natural amphitheatre area. This spot is about 2,000 feet above sea level.
John C. Catlin helped start the Mountain Play Association. He paid for the first play at this site in 1913. In the early days, people reached the plays by hiking. They could also ride a special train. This train was called the Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railway. Businessman Sidney B. Cushing led this railway.
In 1933, a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) began building a stone amphitheater. The CCC was a government program that put young men to work. They built the 4,000-seat theater using huge serpentine rocks. The amphitheater was named the Sidney B. Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre. This honored Sidney B. Cushing for his support.
In 1967, the venue hosted a big music event. It was called the Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival. Many people think this was one of the first outdoor rock festivals ever. Today, the Mountain Theatre still hosts plays every spring.
Music for the Park
On June 21, 2013, a special concert was held. It was called Mount Tam Jam. This event helped raise money for California State Parks. The parks were facing budget problems. Many people came to the eight-hour festival. Bands like CAKE and Taj Mahal performed.
Sound Summit Concerts
Since 2015, a concert series called Sound Summit has taken place. Michael Nash started this series. It helps raise money for Mount Tamalpais State Park. These concerts have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Many famous bands have played at Sound Summit. In 2015, Tedeschi Trucks Band performed. Wilco and Los Lobos played in 2016. In 2017, members of the Grateful Dead, Bob Weir and Phil Lesh, were there. Herbie Hancock and Grace Potter played in 2018. The event took a break in 2019. It was postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sound Summit returned in 2021 with bands like Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real.
Images for kids
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Panoramic view of the amphitheater
