Rent the Lyford House, Blue Classroom and Rosie's Cottage

The Lyford House, a Registered National Historic Landmark at the Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary, offers a wonderfully unique setting on the water’s edge for outdoor weddings, meetings and special events. Though only one mile from a major freeway and ten miles from one of the world's great cities, it is a world apart.

The stars of this Sanctuary are the spectacular view and natural setting. Guests standing on the Lyford terrace and meadow can enjoy a stunning panorama, sweeping from Belvedere to the San Francisco skyline, Sausalito and Mount Tamalpais. After you pass the expanse of wild grasses and native plants on your way in, you may encounter over 200 species of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and bay creatures. Lyford House is on an Audubon Sanctuary, so visitors shouldn't be surprised to see hawks, ducks, sandpipers and the occasional heron. These feathered party crashers may not fly in with a formal invitation, but everyone seems to appreciate their graceful presence.

The Lyford House was built in 1876 as the main residence of a dairy farm on neighboring Strawberry Point. It was barged over to its present site in 1957 after local conservationists saved it from the wrecker's ball. After restoration, it served as headquarters for those groups. Later, the National Audubon Society assumed title to Lyford House and moved its administrative operations to another building.

The Blue Classroom and Rosie’s Cottage offer smaller spaces for a business retreat, book club, or family gathering. Thanks to the ample grounds, folks who like to stretch their legs during a meeting can do just that; a short hike on the trail around the property, enhanced by the sea air, refreshes and inspires. A favorite jaunt begins beyond the Lyford terrace where a stairway leads down to a 100-yard stretch of beach, the kind of place for slow strolls, conversations and bird watching.

Host your outdoor waterfront wedding or event at historic Lyford House. Host a reunion, meeting or corporate retreat at Rosie's Cottage or the Blue Classroom, all part of the Richardson Bay Audubon Center in Tiburon, California, located in Southern Marin County.