Adventure 051, Site 053 – Marin Civic Center

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 051, Site 053 – Marin Civic Center

California Landmark Number999

National Registry ID: 91002055

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  September 20, 2012

Location:

Latitude: 37° 59.833′ N

Longitude: 122° 31.867′ W

Address: Civic Center, San Rafael

Description:

Date Built: 1969

Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright

 When you first see the Center, you see a building which is both massive and subdued. The building is long and stretches blocks on end, in two direction, yet its blending into the hills makes it part of the landscape. What Thing One remembers about this building is the killing of the presiding judge by the Black Panthers in 1970. But is is now known as the building which fully incorporated Frank Lloyd Wrights ideas, blending environment, function, and beauty.




NO. 999 MARIN COUNTY CIVIC CENTER - The Civic Center Complex was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright (1869-1959) near the end of his long career. The administration Building was completed in 1962 and the Hall of Justice in 1970. They are the only government buildings designed by the distinguished architect that were ever actually constructed. The project fully embodied Wright's ideal of organic architecture-a synthesis of buildings and landscape. In Wright's words, the structures were planned to 'melt into the sunburnt hills.'
Location: Civic Center, San Rafael (plaque in storage, 3rd floor, County Counsel's Office)
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places: NPS-91002055



Description as found on the National historic Registry:
The Marin County Civic Center is composed of two buildings, the 580-foot long Administration Building and the 880-foot long Hall of Justice, which are set at a slight angle to each other and joined together by a central rotunda 80 feet in diameter. The rounded ends of the buildings are built into the sides of two low hills. The main entrance drive passes through an archway on the ground level of the Administration Building; the Hall of Justice has two archways, one over the road leading to a back parking lot and one providing access to the county jail.
References:

• Wikipedia
  
• National Registry of Historical Places-Documents and Photos
  
• Historical Marker Database (HMDB)
  

Overall Landmark References:

• David Schmitt's California State Historical Landmark (Schmitt)
  
• Wikipedia: California's National Landmarks (WCNL)
  
• State of California's California Historical Landmarks (CHL)
  
• Wikipedia: California State Landmarks (WCSL)
  
• State of California Historical Resources (CHR)
  
• National Registry of Historical Places (NRHP)
  
• Noehill (NOE)
  
• Historical Marker Database (HMDB)
  
• Fresno – Local Historical Sites (FRLO)
  
• Fresno – National Historical Sites (FRNA)