Marconi-RCA Bolinas Transmitting Station, Historic transmitter station in Bolinas, United States.
The Marconi-RCA Bolinas Transmitting Station is a wireless communication facility on Mesa Road built between 1913 and 1931 with Mission Revival buildings and an Art Deco transmitter structure. The site preserves nine original tower foundations from 1914 that demonstrate the scale of early wireless infrastructure.
Guglielmo Marconi founded this wireless station in 1914 to enable the first trans-Pacific radio transmissions between the United States and Asia. The facility was built during the era when wireless telegraphy represented the cutting edge of long-distance communication technology.
The buildings display Mission Revival and Art Deco architectural styles that stand out in this coastal region. The design choices reflect how early 20th-century engineers combined beauty with the practical needs of wireless communication.
The site sits in a remote location along Mesa Road and can be explored on foot, with the preserved tower foundations easy to spot. The best time to visit is in clear weather, as the exposed location can experience strong winds and fog that make exploration less comfortable.
Only four Marconi wireless stations survive in the continental United States, and this is one of them. Its preservation with original structural elements intact offers a rare glimpse into how long-distance radio communication was physically built in the early 20th century.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
