Mendocino Headlands State Park protects the open coastal land around Mendocino, including undeveloped seaside bluffs, islets, and the contrasting shorelines of Big River Beach and Portuguese Beach. Created in 1974 after local concern over blufftop development, the park preserves rocky headlands, coastal prairie, and paths near town, with the Ford House Museum serving as headquarters and visitor center. In 2002, the much larger Big River Unit was added, extending eight miles along both banks of the river. It includes wetlands, Northern California’s longest undeveloped estuary, remnants of the Mendocino Lumber Company sawmill, and trails and waterways for quiet recreation.