Venice on San Pablo Bay
In August of 1914, real estate developer Mabry McMahan filed his plans for a luxury development on San Pablo Bay styled after the Italian city of Venice. He envisioned, a “Newport of the West” built along canals and tree-lined boulevards with a community clubhouse and resort hotel. By the following November, McMahan had invested $160,000. on landfill, canals and levees. The grand opening, later that month, attracted nearly 3,000 visitors and featured water polo games, swimming events and the endorsement of such experts as Golden Gate Park Superintendent John McLaren and architect Bernard Maybeck.
The November 14, 1914 Marin County Tocsin reported:
Fully 3000 people enjoyed the hospitality of Mabry McMahon at Santa Venetia last Saturday and Sunday and were greatly astonished…at the wonderful transformation which had taken place during the past year. What was formerly a long stretch of marsh is now one of the most beautiful spots in the county. The present Santa Venetia, with its deep canals, concrete walls and bulkheads and miles of concrete walks was a great revelation to those who had passed that way a few years ago. The first lot put on the market was purchased by Mr. Carmichael, a Sacramento millionaire, who will erect a beautiful home on the site.
Throughout 1915 and 1916 McMahan continued to generate positive publicity for his “dream city.” At the close of the Panama Pacific International Exposition he acquired several structures and had them brought over to Santa Venetia by barge. He spoke of importing authentic gondolas from Venice and of commissioning McLaren to design the landscaping. Unfortunately, the advent of World War I and the ensuing economic depression put an end to McMahan’s dream. The lovely (but impermanent) exposition buildings crumbled. No Venetian-style residences were ever built and all that remains of his vision are a few palm trees, the widened canals and several of the street names.
It wasn’t until after the next war — World War II — that significant development took place in Santa Venetia. J.D. O’Connor Reality began developing McMahan’s filled-in marshland in the early 1950s. “Gallinas Village” was the name given to his tract and homes were selling there for around $14,000. in 1954.
Development continued throughout the decade, providing housing for returning serviceman and others who flocked to Marin after the war. In her 1967 article on “Mabry McMahan’s Dream City”, historian Florence Donnelly comments:
Santa Venetia is now a delightful suburb of San Rafael. True, there are no arched bridges over the canals, no plush hotel on the island. But it is a community of attractive houses.
For more information on the history of Santa Venetia, visit the Anne T. Kent California Room and our digital archive.