The Marin Civic Center arose from a desire to consolidate county services at a single location, away from the center of San Rafael.
The idea was combined with a proposed county fairground, and 140 acres (57 ha) of the Scettrini ranch were purchased in 1956 for $551,416 along U.S. Highway 101 near Santa Venetia.
The same year a selection committee was convened to select an architect, interviewing 26 firms, with a strong showing from Richard Neutra.
Frank Lloyd Wright was not interviewed, and had indicated that he would not participate in a competitive selection.
At the instigation of supervisor Vera Schultz, committee members and four county supervisors met Wright in June 1957 when he visited Berkeley to lecture at the University of California.
Schultz was the most ardent backer of Frank Lloyd Wright as prospective civic center architect.
If not for Schultz’s unwavering support and ironclad determination in the face of heated opposition, Wright’s version of the center would never have been built.
Schultz had the support of three of the men on the board, but the fourth, William Fusselman, attempted to prevent Wright from getting the commission.
On June 27 the Board of Supervisors voted 4-1, with Fusselman dissenting, to retain Wright.
Wright arrived in San Rafael two days later.
He was 90 years old.

Fusselman, the holdout supervisor represented a conservative base that was opposed to the rapid pace of change in Marin County and to the proposed move from the center of San Rafael.
 Wright's fee of 10% of the construction cost drew criticism, as it was 2% higher than that proposed by other firms.
Fusselman found a supporter in Wisconsin State Assemblyman Carroll Metzner, a virulent opponent of Wright in Wisconsin who appeared with Fusselman on local radio in Marin to denounce Wright's "socialist" design philosophy.
Fusselman was also supported by the local chapter of the American Legion.
At the board meeting that confirmed Wright's appointment Legionniare Bryson Reinhardt read into the record a denunciation of Wright as a supporter of Communism during World War II, prompting an angry response from Wright, who threatened to walk away from the project.
The county clerk, a Fusselman ally who had helped to organize the Legionnaires' protest, lost Wright's contract.
A carbon copy of the contract was signed by the president of the Board of Supervisors, and Wright stayed.
  Opponents demanded a referendum on the design, which was counteracted by an effective public relations campaign by supporters.
Wright was directed to proceed with detailed design on April 28, 1958.
In March 1959 Wright was appointed to design the post office.
On April 9, 1959, Wright died, aged 91.
Supervisor Fusselman attempted to obtain the plans as they were at Wright's death and to cut the fee by 2%.
Both efforts were unsuccessful.
Design of the first phase was complete in September 1959, directed by Wesley Peters and Aaron Green.
The low bidder was Rothschild, Raffin and Weirick of San Francisco for $3,638,735 for the building and $596,470 for site development.

Ground was broken on February 15, 1960 at a ceremony attended by Wright's widow, Olgivanna, Wright's son Lloyd Wright and grandson Eric Lloyd Wright, but not by Fusselman.
The June 1960 election changed the makeup of the Marin County Board of Supervisors so that, in the following January, the new board voted to halt work on the project and possibly to convert it for use as a hospital, to replace a hospital that had been condemned.
However, a poll by the Marin Independent Journal showing overwhelming support for the project pressured board members to change their minds.
This, together with a negative report on conversion to hospital use by an independent architectural firm led to the lifting of the stop-work order, construction resumed a week later.
The contractor sued for time and money lost during the stoppage.
There was no further political opposition.
The post office was the first building to be completed, and was dedicated on May 19, 1962.
The Administration Building was dedicated on October 13, 1
The Marin Civic Center arose from a desire to consolidate county services at a single location, away from the center of San Rafael. The idea was combined with a proposed county fairground, and 140 acres (57 ha) of the Scettrini ranch were purchased in 1956 for $551,416 along U.S. Highway 101 near Santa Venetia. The same year a selection committee was convened to select an architect, interviewing 26 firms, with a strong showing from Richard Neutra. Frank Lloyd Wright was not interviewed, and had indicated that he would not participate in a competitive selection. At the instigation of supervisor Vera Schultz, committee members and four county supervisors met Wright in June 1957 when he visited Berkeley to lecture at the University of California. Schultz was the most ardent backer of Frank Lloyd Wright as prospective civic center architect. If not for Schultz’s unwavering support and ironclad determination in the face of heated opposition, Wright’s version of the center would never have been built. Schultz had the support of three of the men on the board, but the fourth, William Fusselman, attempted to prevent Wright from getting the commission. On June 27 the Board of Supervisors voted 4-1, with Fusselman dissenting, to retain Wright. Wright arrived in San Rafael two days later. He was 90 years old.
Fusselman, the holdout supervisor represented a conservative base that was opposed to the rapid pace of change in Marin County and to the proposed move from the center of San Rafael.  Wright's fee of 10% of the construction cost drew criticism, as it was 2% higher than that proposed by other firms. Fusselman found a supporter in Wisconsin State Assemblyman Carroll Metzner, a virulent opponent of Wright in Wisconsin who appeared with Fusselman on local radio in Marin to denounce Wright's "socialist" design philosophy. Fusselman was also supported by the local chapter of the American Legion. At the board meeting that confirmed Wright's appointment Legionniare Bryson Reinhardt read into the record a denunciation of Wright as a supporter of Communism during World War II, prompting an angry response from Wright, who threatened to walk away from the project. The county clerk, a Fusselman ally who had helped to organize the Legionnaires' protest, lost Wright's contract. A carbon copy of the contract was signed by the president of the Board of Supervisors, and Wright stayed.   Opponents demanded a referendum on the design, which was counteracted by an effective public relations campaign by supporters. Wright was directed to proceed with detailed design on April 28, 1958. In March 1959 Wright was appointed to design the post office. On April 9, 1959, Wright died, aged 91. Supervisor Fusselman attempted to obtain the plans as they were at Wright's death and to cut the fee by 2%. Both efforts were unsuccessful. Design of the first phase was complete in September 1959, directed by Wesley Peters and Aaron Green. The low bidder was Rothschild, Raffin and Weirick of San Francisco for $3,638,735 for the building and $596,470 for site development.
Ground was broken on February 15, 1960 at a ceremony attended by Wright's widow, Olgivanna, Wright's son Lloyd Wright and grandson Eric Lloyd Wright, but not by Fusselman. The June 1960 election changed the makeup of the Marin County Board of Supervisors so that, in the following January, the new board voted to halt work on the project and possibly to convert it for use as a hospital, to replace a hospital that had been condemned. However, a poll by the Marin Independent Journal showing overwhelming support for the project pressured board members to change their minds. This, together with a negative report on conversion to hospital use by an independent architectural firm led to the lifting of the stop-work order, construction resumed a week later. The contractor sued for time and money lost during the stoppage. There was no further political opposition. The post office was the first building to be completed, and was dedicated on May 19, 1962. The Administration Building was dedicated on October 13, 1
Marin County Civic Center