It featured two hotels, a general store, a saloon, a meat market, blacksmith, livery stable, and a notion shop.

Starting in the 1870s, the narrow-gauge North Pacific Coast Railroad ran through Duncans Mills on its way from Cazadero, California, to Sausalito.

A California State Park Sector Office is located in a building constructed to look like an original fixture of the town, but was actually part of the 1976 revitalization.

The Blue Heron Restaurant has served as the destination entertainment center of the town for decades.

Duncans Mills is located on the Russian River about 4 mi (6 km) from the Pacific Ocean.