PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM 45 sinking of the Titanic, the British postmaster general was quoted as saying, “Those who have been saved, have been saved through one man, Mr. Marconi… and his marvelous invention.”) During World War I, the military appropriated Marconi’s transmitters. In the early 1960s, a rehab facility known as Synanon took over the site. Morphing into an infamous cult, Synanon eventually collapsed amid scandal and bankruptcy. The state claimed ownership in the MARCONI PAST AND PRESENT Today, visitors flock to coastal West Marin for sweeping views— along with famously fresh air and fresh oysters—but back in the early 20th century, Italian inventor and engineer Guglielmo Marconi discerned a different appeal: the optimal conditions for long-distance radio signal transmission. Credited as the “father of radio,” Marconi developed the historic Marshall Trans-Pacific receiving station here, along with a majestic hotel for staff and visitors. (Interesting side note: after the 1912 1980s, turning the property into Marconi Historic State Park. Now, tucked within the park’s 62 scenic acres sits the newest incarnation: Lodge at Marconi, which opened to guests in late 2023 after an extensive multi-million dollar renovation. Seamlessly entwined with the wooded hillscape, the Lodge is actually a collection of free-standing structures encompassing 45 guest rooms and suites, with a range of layouts suitable for couples, families, corporate travelers and groups. Here, nature abounds—outside PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF BRIAN FERRY
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTcxMjMwNg==