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Image / Marin City Flea Market, circa 1990 [photograph 023]

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Title
Marin City Flea Market, circa 1990 [photograph 023]
Creator
Kittle, Nancy
Date Created and/or Issued
1990~
Contributing Institution
Marin County Free Library
Collection
California Revealed from Marin County Free Library
Rights Information
Rights are owned by the Anne T. Kent California Room, Marin County Free Library. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the Copyright Holder. In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Description
For two decades, the Marin City Flea Market, held on the weekends, was one of the largest outdoor markets in the Bay Area. Vendors and visitors came from throughout the area. Besides antique dealers, collectors and bargain hunters, the Flea Market featured live music, and food. Throughout much of its history, the flea market was Marin City’s only source of sales tax income. Dennis Monahan began the Marin City Flea Market in 1971, with only three vendors. It soon became an operation that attracted antique dealers, collectors, and bargain hunters from throughout the Bay Area. In 1974 and 1975, the flea market saw controversy. The lease for the flea market property was awarded to the Marin City Community Services District, and Monahan and Arlene Atkinson, who had run the flea market as private citizens, lost their ownership. The District then subleased the property to Lindsey Cage and Leon Howard. These actions were surrounded by a dispute involving alleged bribery and issues of race, over the transfer of management from Monahan and Atkinson, who were white, to Cage and Howard, who were black. Two District directors were ultimately recalled, with the flea market issue central to the upheaval. In 1995, the flea market ceased operation, as the Marin City Community Development Corp. shut down the market to make way for the Gateway Shopping Center as part of the $72 million “Marin City USA” project.
Type
image
Format
Original
Photograph
Extent
18.875 x 19.875 in.
1 Page of 1
Identifier
csrcl_000023
Q.1338.002.023
Language
English
Subject
Flea markets
Place
Marin City (Calif.)
Marin County (Calif.)
Provenance
Marin County Free Library
California Revealed is supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.

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