Marin County Civic Center

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Marin County Civic Center
(U.S. National Historic Landmark)
The Marin County Civic Center
Location:	San Rafael, California
Built/Founded:	1960
Architect:	Wright,Frank Lloyd
Architectural style(s):	Modern Movement
Added to NRHP:	July 17, 1991
Reference #:	91002055 ^[1]

Marin County Civic Center, the only public building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is located in San Rafael, California. The building, completed in 1959 after Wright's death, is a national and state designated historic landmark. The nearby fairgrounds house the Marin County Fair each July.

Interior of Marin County Civic Center

Portions of the science fiction films THX 1138 (1969) and Gattaca (1997) were shot on location in the Marin Center. In addition, the buildings (especially those in the fairgrounds) served as a direct inspiration to those of the planet Naboo in the Star Wars films.

In August, 1970 the Civic Center, which houses the Marin County Superior Court, was the scene of an assault by a group of African-American political activists led by Jonathan Jackson, the brother of Black Panther militant George Jackson, demanding the release of the so-called "Soledad Brothers". The group released several prisoners in the courtroom and took a number of hostages including the presiding judge, Harold Haley. While they were attempting to escape, four people, including Judge Haley and Jonathan Jackson, were killed. The story, which featured dramatic photographs, was carried in newspapers nationally. Black Panther activist Angela Davis was eventually tied to the case, prompting her to go on the run before being caught and ultimately acquitted on charges of supplying firearms to Jonathan Jackson.