City Of San Rafael Historic Sites
1000 Fourth Street - Marin County Courthouse
Marin County Courthouse, ca. 1873
The cornerstone for the new Marin County Courthouse was laid on August 3, 1872, to replace Timothy Murphy’s adobe at the corner of 4th and C Streets. It was the first structure built in Marin County using funding from local taxes. The architects designed a building of Greek Revival architecture, popular at the time, with massive columns at the top of a broad stairway, and a high dome. In April 1873, the local newspaper reported that the County Surveyor was the first to move into the new county headquarters.
Prisoners and convicts were held in the basement jail while general county business was held just above on the ground and second floors. Executions by hanging were conducted in the front hall until September 1, 1893. That day, a man was hanged and the drunk crowd rushed to the gallows to grab the rope for souvenirs. The San Francisco papers wrote that the citizens of San Rafael acted as “barbarians” and created a scandal for the City of San Rafael and its sheriff. All future executions were moved to San Quentin State Prison.
Prisoners and convicts were held in the basement jail while general county business was held just above on the ground and second floors. Executions by hanging were conducted in the front hall until September 1, 1893. That day, a man was hanged and the drunk crowd rushed to the gallows to grab the rope for souvenirs. The San Francisco papers wrote that the citizens of San Rafael acted as “barbarians” and created a scandal for the City of San Rafael and its sheriff. All future executions were moved to San Quentin State Prison.
Marin County Courthouse, ca. 1940s
In the 1920s a group of citizens recognized the need to honor the Marin soldiers who lost their lives in World War I. On September 17, 1922, over 4,000 residents gathered to dedicate the “Doughboy” statue designed by Mayor Joseph J. Mora. After World War II, a plaque was added to honor those killed in the war.
By the 1950s, the huge growth in Marin made it necessary to expand the county offices and jail, and the Marin County Civic Center was built in the early 1960s. In 1969, the Hall of Justice was completed, and the courts and jail were moved to the Civic Center.
The courthouse stood unused for several years until May 25, 1971, when fire broke out.The building was constructed of timber and had no fire mitigation walls in the attic or any sprinkler systems, allowing the flames to spread the width of the entire building. The fire engulfed the courthouse for over three hours, attracting an estimated crowd of more than 2,000 spectators. By the next morning, the final fire was extinguished, leaving the once-grand structure reduced to a hollow shell surrounded by heaps of blackened debris.
The San Rafael Fire Department confirmed that the blaze was deliberately set, although the exact cause and suspected arsonist were never identified. The courthouse was demolished following the fire and remained empty for four years, when an eight-story office building was constructed in its place.
The San Rafael Fire Department confirmed that the blaze was deliberately set, although the exact cause and suspected arsonist were never identified. The courthouse was demolished following the fire and remained empty for four years, when an eight-story office building was constructed in its place.
The Doughboy was moved to its present location at the Marin Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium and later joined by a statue honoring those soldiers killed in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
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