Hog Island (Tomales Bay) facts for kids
Hog Island in 2014, viewed from the west
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 Hog Island
Location in California
Hog Island
Location in the United States
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| Geography | |
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| Location | West Marin |
| Coordinates | 38°11′50″N 122°56′09″W / 38.19722°N 122.93583°W |
| Total islands | 1 |
| Administration | |
| State | California |
| County | Marin County, California |
| Governing body | Point Reyes National Seashore |
Hog Island is a small island located in Tomales Bay in Marin County, California. It's about 2 acres (0.8 hectares) in size. You can find it about 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of the entrance to Tomales Bay.
The water on the west side of Hog Island is deep enough for small boats. But on the east side, the water is very shallow. At low tide, you might even be able to walk across to the eastern shore of the bay! Because of these shallow areas, some boats have gotten stuck there. However, Hog Island is far enough inside Tomales Bay that it doesn't get hit by the big, sudden waves found closer to the bay's entrance.
The island got its interesting name from a funny story in the 1870s. A boat carrying pigs caught fire! To save the boat from sinking, it was steered onto the island. The pigs then escaped onto the island. They had to be rounded up later. This event gave the island its unique name. The famous Hog Island Oyster Company, which sells shellfish, is also named after this island.
The San Andreas Fault runs right through the middle of Tomales Bay, passing by Hog Island. This fault is a huge crack in the Earth's crust. There's a local story that Hog Island and a nearby island called Duck Island (sometimes called "Piglet") used to be connected. People say they separated during the big 1906 San Francisco earthquake. However, old records from the 1880s show they were separate even before the earthquake. Today, the two islands are sometimes connected by a sand bar that appears at low tide.
The Inverness Yacht Club holds a fun event each year. It's an annual sailboat race that goes all the way around Hog Island. Boats start at the club, sail around the island, and then race back to the club.
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Who Owned Hog Island?
Hog Island has had many different owners over the years. It has a long and interesting history!
Early Owners
Around 1885, the United States government sold Hog Island. It was bought by Christian Kuschert, who was an immigrant from Germany. In 1902, Christian gave the island to his sister, Catherine, and her husband, Henry Siemsen. But they didn't keep it for long. Just one year later, the Siemsens sold the island to N.W. Mallery. Mallery lost the island in 1909 because of money problems. Clara Windsor then bought the island for $800 through a special court process.
Becoming a Bird Sanctuary
In 1969, Michael and Annabelle Gahagan bought the island from Ms. Windsor. The next year, they became the publishers of the Point Reyes Light newspaper. In 1972, the Gahagans sold Hog Island to Audubon Canyon Ranch. This group used the island as a special place for birds, a bird sanctuary.
Part of a National Park
Managing the island as a bird sanctuary was difficult. So, in 1996, the Audubon Canyon Ranch gave Hog Island to the Point Reyes National Seashore. This means it is now part of a protected national park area.
Hog Island Today
Today, no one lives on Hog Island. But you can still see signs that people used to live there, like parts of an old building and a small pier. The island is a very important place for Harbor seals. It's a "pupping ground," which means seal mothers give birth to their babies there. Because of this, people are not allowed to visit the island during the pupping season. This helps keep the baby seals safe and undisturbed.
