Marin County Civic Center
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| Marin County Civic Center | |
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| (U.S. National Historic Landmark) | |
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| Location: | San Rafael, California |
| Built/Founded: | 1960 |
| Architect: | Wright,Frank Lloyd |
| Architectural style(s): | Modern Movement |
| Added to NRHP: | July 17, 1991 |
| NRHP Reference#: | 91002055 [1] |
Marin County Civic Center, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is located in San Rafael, California. Groundbreaking for the Civic Center Administration Building took place in 1960, after Wright's death, and was completed in 1962. The Hall of Justice was begun in 1966 and completed in 1969. Veterans Memorial Theater (Auditorium) opened in 1971, and the Exhibit Hall opened in 1976. The Marin County Civic Center is a national and state designated historic landmark. The nearby fairgrounds house the Marin County Fair each July.
The selection of Frank Lloyd Wright in 1957 to design the Civic Center was controversial. The June 1960 election changed the makeup of the Marin County Board of Supervisors such that, in the following January, the new board voted to halt work on the project and possibly convert it for use as a hospital. However, a poll by the Marin Independent Journal showing overwhelming support for the project pressured board members to change their minds, and construction resumed a week later.
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.
On August 21, 1975 the Symbionese Liberation Army planted bombs in the Civic Center parking lot, which detonated and destroyed two sheriff's cruisers.[citation needed]
[edit] Trivia
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- The 140-acre Scettrini Ranch in Santa Venetia was purchased in 1956 for $551,416 for use as the site of the Civic Center and County Fairgrounds.
- The original design called for the roof to be gold in color, but was changed to blue in 1961.
- The Civic Center was the primary location for the filming of Gattaca (1997), starring Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman
- The Civic Center has been referred to as the "Martian Embassy" due to the futuristic appearance of the spire and "flying saucer" at the south end of the building.[citation needed]
[edit] References
- ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2006-03-15).
[edit] External links
- Marin County Civic Center Chronology
- Frank Lloyd Wright and the Marin County Civic Center Photo Album
- Marin Center
- More photos (LandLiving.com)
- Marin again (LandLiving.com)
- Security Report that refers to the Judge Haley incident
- Roger Bockrath's photo of Judge Haley hostage
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