San Rafael

San Rafael is named after the Mission San Rafael Archangel. Built by Spanish missionaries in 1817, San Rafael is located 18 miles north of San Francisco, halfway between San Francisco and the Sonoma wine country. The area enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate year-round. Beautiful Mount Tamalpais dominates the landscape to the south and west, protecting it from the ocean breezes and coastal fog. 

As Marin's premier community, San Rafael is the oldest and largest city in the county and also the seat of county government. Marin's second most popular tourist spot (after Muir Woods) is the Frank Lloyd Wright Civic Center. The building was the last major structure and the only government building designed by the world-famous architect. Today, the Frank Lloyd Wright Civic Center is a national historic landmark. The 20-acre Marin County Civic Center is home to Marin County's government offices, the County Library, and the Marin Center for the Performing Arts.