[john_mclark]

I saw a forum about city halls and I thought all of the city halls were beautiful. Texas on the other hand has beautiful courthouses. I was wondering if the rest of the country builds beautiful courthouses, and if so could you post a picture and if your like me and can't put pictures up give a description.

Thanks.

[X-fib]

There are County courthouses in Wisconsin that rival some state capitals. Some are architectually wonderful while others are horrendus. The county where I live has two standing. The earliest built in 1858 burned in 1891. A seperate 1869 addition still stands as does its 1893 replacement. Brown County's (Green Bay) is particularly interesting and its interior was recently restored to its orginal grandure. If I could get past my technical inability to post pics here, I would!

[Boris2k7]

Calgary, AB

Here is our new Courthouse under construction. You can decide for yourselves whether or not it is beautiful, but it is at least huge...

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/4725/courts38ke5.jpg

The historic courthouse is that little yellow building to the bottom-left.

[Steely Dan]

The Richard J. Daley Center, Chicago

http://www.aia.org/aiarchitect/thisweek04/tw1203/1203firm_civcpp.jpg http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Landmarks/images/landmarks/d/daley_center2b.jpg
http://www.richmangalleries.com/images/RichardJDaleyCtrCh279.jpg http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/fnart/fa267/20th/chicity2.jpg
http://www.chicagoarchitecture.info/Images/TheLoop/DaleyCenter-001.jpg http://www.chicagoarchitecture.info/CAI/Images/TheLoop/DaleyCenter-001.jpg

[hauntedheadnc]

The Buncombe County Courthouse is the tallest in North Carolina.

http://www.consultwebs.com/ncphotos/images/asheville/buncombe_1962_550wm.jpg

It replaced this.

http://pix.epodunk.com/NC/nc_co_buncombe01.jpg

[i_am_hydrogen]

The Richard J. Daley Center, Chicago

Nice on the outside, mean on the inside. But the views from the 29th floor are some of the best I've ever seen. Hopefully I can get some photos one of these days.

[Steely Dan]

mean on the inside.


i completely disagree. i love the stark, modern high-volume courtrooms in the daley center. unfortuantely, i don't have any pics to show.

[i_am_hydrogen]

i completely disagree. i love the stark, modern high-volume courtrooms in the daley center. unfortuantely, i don't have any pics to show.

I guess I meant "mean" not in an aesthetic sense but moreso in the sense of the people who are there. The Daley Center is a daily grind. There are a lot of pissed off people there--attorneys, judges, plaintiffs, defendants, librarians, security guards.

[john_mclark]

this web site shows all the courthouses in texas. personaly these countys have the best looking:Wise County, Victoria County, Tarrant County, Shackelford County, Red River County, Parker County, McCulloch County, Hays County

http://www.texasescapes.com/Texas_architecture/TexasCourthouses.htm

oh ya i suck at spelling so forgive me if i miss spell anything

[Evergrey]

Pennsylvania has a diverse collection of beautiful courthouses... here's a few from the Western and Central regions of the state.

Allegheny County (Pittsburgh, PA) ...always hard to get a decent pic of this due to the extremely tight urban fabric here...
http://www.pbase.com/deadwing/image/55788839.jpg

Elk County (Ridgway, PA)
http://www.pbase.com/deadwing/image/54948617.jpg

Jefferson County (Brookville, PA)
http://www.pbase.com/deadwing/image/54949905.jpg

Berks County (Reading, PA)
http://www.pbase.com/deadwing/image/55512000.jpg

Centre County (Bellefonte, PA)
http://www.pbase.com/deadwing/image/59895502.jpg

Blair County (Hollidaysburg, PA)
http://www.pbase.com/deadwing/image/57357129.jpg

Mifflin County (Lewistown, PA)
http://www.pbase.com/deadwing/image/57358704.jpg

Clinton County (Lock Haven, PA)
http://www.pbase.com/deadwing/image/57359407.jpg

Cameron County (Emporium, PA)
http://www.pbase.com/deadwing/image/58758232.jpg

Fayette County (Uniontown, PA)
http://www.pbase.com/deadwing/image/59893391.jpg

[Boquillas]

Texas does have some gorgeous ones. In San Antonio, the Bexar County Courthouse:
http://publish.pdesigner.com/mcreynolds-tye/Graphics/Library/Courthouse.jpg

Wise County (Decatur):
http://www.airforcebase.net/personal/architecture/Decatur_TX_Wise_CC_20051021_01.jpg

Shackleford County:
http://www.airforcebase.net/personal/architecture/Shackelford_CC_Albany_TX_20060312_03.jpg

Lampasas County:
http://www.airforcebase.net/personal/architecture/Lampasas_CC_TX_20040528_04.JPG

Astacosa County:
http://www.airforcebase.net/personal/architecture/Atascosa_CC_TX_20040911_02.JPG

Coryell County:
http://www.airforcebase.net/personal/architecture/Coryell_CC_TX_20040919_08.JPG

Ellis County (Waxahachie):
http://www.airforcebase.net/personal/architecture/Ellis_CC_Waxa_TX_20050529_04.jpg

the last 6 images are from this site:
http://www.airforcebase.net/personal/architecture.html

[Independence]

Nice on the outside, mean on the inside. But the views from the 29th floor are some of the best I've ever seen. Hopefully I can get some photos one of these days.

I'm waiting for these!:D

And: The Daley is a highrise courthouse...this is quite unusual. I like
the architectural style of the Daley Center a lot. It's a modern classic!

Hey Steely Dan, you like the DaCe, right? ;) Second reply of yours I've read
that featured the Daley aiming to it's beauty, which most of the 'forumers'
don't share.... (I do!)

[Robert Pence]

Allen County Courthouse, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Dedicated: 1902
Architect: Brentwood S. Tolan
Contractor: James Stewart
Cost $800,000

The Beaux Arts-style Allen County Courthouse replaced a badly-deteriorated 1861 brick structure on the same site. Thanks to the effort of the Allen County Courthouse Preservation Trust (http://www.co.allen.in.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=5&id=117&Itemid=379), it recently underwent a $9 million restoration of its interior design features, scagliola (faux marble) and Charles Holloway murals.

All images copyright (c) 2004 by Robert E. Pence

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/allen_ch_2004_10.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/allen_ch_2004_36.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/allen_ch_2004_43.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/allen_ch_2004_20.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/allen_ch_2004_46.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_bk.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_ac.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_ai.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_af.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_ad.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_ag.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_ab.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_aa.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_aj.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_al.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_am.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_an.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_ao.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_bj.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_bg.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_av.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_at.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_bc.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_bh.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_ax.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_bb.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_ba.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_ay.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_aw.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_as.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_ap.jpg

http://robertpence.com/allen_ch/20040827_courthouse_bi.jpg

http://www.in.gov/dnr/historic/images/hp_month_poster_2006.jpg

To obtain a physical copy or download a printable pdf of the 2006 Indiana Historic Preservation Month poster, click here (http://www.in.gov/dnr/historic/hp_poster.html) for the web site of the Department of Historic Preservation and Archeology.

[MolsonExport]

The Granddaddy of them all: the United States Courthouse (NYC)
http://www.airninja.com/pictures/new-york-city/united-states-courthouse.jpg

[MayDay]

Some Northeast Ohio County courthouses:

Cuyahoga County:
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/030106/030106_11.jpg


Trumbull County (Warren):
http://www.urbanohio.com/NEOhio/Warren/Downtown/Warren10.JPG

Mahoning County (Youngstown)
http://www.urbanohio.com/NEOhio/Youngstown/Downtown/YTDT18.JPG

Stark County (Canton):
http://www.urbanohio.com/OhioSkylinesPics/NEOhio/Canton/Downtown/DowntownCanton11.jpg

[hauntedheadnc]

I really like those courthouses with statues on top. Here's an historic postcard photo of the historic Henderson County Courthouse, down in the Asheville-Hendersonville area's secondary hub.

http://pix.epodunk.com/NC/nc_co_henderson01.jpg

This courthouse was built in 1904, and is currently undergoing renovation as county offices and a museum, while the new courthouse, a nondescript Greek temple-ish affair, opened in 1995.

Regarding these statues on top, though, with some of these statues, the physical features are exaggerated so as to appear normal when viewed from the ground. If you get a close look at the statue though, the effect is hilarious. There's a bronze copy in the new courthouse of the statue atop the old one. From the ground she looks like a lovely lady. Up close, she's a bug-eyed, frog-faced mutant with a little something extra -- two-inch-long nipples. This was done to give just a hint of boobies from the ground, but it looks freakish up close. They had to grind the nipples down before they could display the statue at the new courthouse.

[BTinSF]

San Francisco doesn't have an attractive county courthouse because until very recently, local courtrooms were on the top floor of City Hall. In the 90's, a new separate courthouse was built but it's a pretty prosaic building. What we do have is the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals--the appeals court for Federal cases with jurisdiction over much of the western US. The only appeal of their judgements is to the Supreme Court, and they have a lovely and grand "Renaissance Palazzo" building on Mission St.:

http://nsmp.wr.usgs.gov/images/sf_court.gif

http://page-turnbull.com/organization/features/issues/court/pictures/coaent.jpg

http://page-turnbull.com/organization/features/issues/court/pictures/coamar2.jpg

http://www.cr.nps.gov/seac/decor2b.gif

This is it just after the 1906 earthquake
http://www.cr.nps.gov/seac/quake.jpghttp://www.cr.nps.gov/seac/quake3aa.jpg

To quote:

The The U.S. Court of Appeals Building at Seventh & Mission Streets has been described as one of the most ornate public buildings in America. It was designed by James Knox Taylor, Supervising Architect of the U.S. Treasury Department, and built in the Italian Renaissance Palazzo style. It was one of the few buildings to survive the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. The U.S. General Services Administration has undertaken an extensive program of seismic stabilization and restoration of the building.

Walking through its gleaming marble halls and ornate courtrooms, one is dazzled by the opulence of materials-a rich variety of marbles and mahoganies, redwood, bronze, colored Venetian glass and porcelain tile-and the extraordinary craftsmanship that created these exquisitely detailed interiors. With its grand marble colonnades, cherubs and vaulted ceilings adorned with intricate mosaics and classical tracery, the building feels like a Florentine Renaissance palazzo. It is one of the finest examples of the American Renaissance style-a distinctly American expression of French Beaux-Arts classicism-that dominated civic architecture at the turn of the century. The imposing granite edifice was designed in the 1890s by James Knox Taylor, chief architect for the U.S. Treasury Department, to house the federal courts and the main San Francisco post office. Taylor oversaw the construction of many Beaux Arts federal buildings around the country. The San Francisco courthouse, which opened in I905, is his masterpiece. In its grandeur, extravagance and exuberance, the building expresses the wealth, optimism and pride of a nation proclaiming its new status as a great imperial power.

[LMich]

As for the original question, just like most all state capitols were designed off classical structures, so are historic courthouses, and Texas is just one of many states with beautiful courthouses. I thought it was pretty obvious that most county's historic courthouses were built for beauty?

[john_mclark]

if i was able to figure out how to put pictures i would but Boquillas got my point across with the texas pictures

[Robert Pence]

As for the original question, just like most all state capitols were designed off classical structures, so are historic courthouses, and Texas is just one of many states with beautiful courthouses. I thought it was pretty obvious that most county's historic courthouses were built for beauty?

Partly. By the late nineteenth century, many of the earlier courthouses were no longer adequate to the task and were run-down. Many had been poorly built in the first place, and lacked adequate sanitary facilities, heating systems, light and ventilation that had become commonplace in newer buildings by that time.

Many of them were either built of wood or of brick or stone with timber-frame interiors, and were firetraps. Courthouse fires were common and sometimes intentionally set by someone with an agenda, destroying court records and property records.

County administrators saw the need for modern fireproof or fire-resistant buildings, and many counties were then experiencing a period of prosperity. County officials weren't subject to very rigid standards of fiscal responsibility and accountability, either, and some saw an opportunity to build impressive memorials to themselves that would occupy a prominent place in the county seat for many years to come. The construction of imposing buildings wasn't so much a civic rivalry as it was a personal rivalry between county commissioners.

The weight of their self-indulgence fell on the backs of the taxpayers, and in more than one case the political careers of the commissioners named on the cornerstones and brass plaques ended with the next election.

Upon seeing Indiana's 1884 Tippecanoe County Courthouse in Lafayette, Mark Twain is reputed to have commented that "it must have cost the taxpayers a pretty penny."
http://robertpence.com/lafay_10-05/lafay_10-05_1099.jpg

[LMich]

Taking into account the courthouse structures built after the 50's, which are usually almost always utilitarian in purpose, the historic courthouses of old were built with a heavy emphasis on looks, even if it was done on a budget, at the time.

Anyway, here's the Ingham County Courthouse, which is the only courthouse located in the county of a capital city built outside of that capital city if that makes sense. In other words, Lansing is the only state capital that's not also a county seat.

http://www.planetware.com/i/photo/lower-peninsula-michigan-miin.jpg

[JManc]

we have four in harris county

the two now in use:

criminal court (2001) i hate this building. :(
http://k43.pbase.com/u46/lwh/upload/29611455.Houston076m.jpg

and the civil courts building(2005)

http://www.pbase.com/mancusoj/image/37479791.jpg

then there is this "thing" which was built in 1953. it's still there but used as the DA's office now i think.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~txpstcrd/courthouses/HarrisCoCourthouseHouston.jpg

the original (1910) still there but not sure what they do with it:

http://www.texascourthouses.com/Courthouse%20Photos/Harris.JPG

[Visiteur]

Onondaga County Courthouse (NY)
http://www.oswegolaw.com/Crthouse.gif
Oswego County courthouse (NY)
http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:uRi2RndqVJIvpM:http://www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/population/photos/NY075.jpg
Tompkins County Courthouse (NY)
http://www.nycourts.gov/6jd/countymaps/tompkins/ITHDRUG/Dscn0357.jpg
Oneida County Courthouses- there are two, one for each major city in the county.
http://www.oneidacountybar.com/images/rome.JPG
Rome
http://www.oneidacountybar.com/images/utica.JPG
Utica
Cortland county Courthouse
http://www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/population/photos/NY023.jpg

[ExcaliburKid]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a6/Fernie_courthouse.jpg

I love this courthouse, in Fernie BC. The courthouse was rebuilt 3 times, and in its current form, cost $100,000 to build way back in 1909. The first one was basically a trappers cabin, and the second burned to the ground, along with most of Fernie back in 1904. Only 1500 or so full time residents live in this town, but the courthouse really would rival those in most metropolises, IMO

[beesbees]

Some of those are truly beautiful.. especially those in Bocquillas post!

[bryson662001]

Philly's "Criminal Justice Center". Maybe not the most beautiful but the courtrooms and other interiors are surprisingly lavish for a modern, municipal building. It's predecesor is just to the right....and is now a Marriott hotel.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k50/bryson662001/court1-1.jpg

[JManc]

Oneida County Courthouses- there are two, one for each major city in the county.
http://www.oneidacountybar.com/images/rome.JPG
Rome
http://www.oneidacountybar.com/images/utica.JPG
Utica

had no idea rome had its own county courthouse. tells you how much i know about rome. :shrug:

[John R]

Here's one of my favorites and it's also one that I show partiality. It's the Tarrant County Courthouse in Fort Worth. Constructed in 1895, it was one of the first steel framed buildings in Fort Worth. The height of the building is 194 feet and it was modeled after the Texas State Capitol. The granite used on the exterior comes from the same quarry. It is also one of the beautiful Texas Courthouses.

http://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/courthouse3.jpg

http://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/courthouse4.jpg

http://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/courthouse-night.jpg

http://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/mainst-night2.jpg

Interior Photos:
http://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/ch-int1.jpg

http://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/ch-int2.jpg

Rotunda Dome:
http://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/ch-int3.jpg

Corridor:
http://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/ch-int4.jpg

[JManc]

good call. tarrant co. has the best looking courthouse in TX, imo.

[LMich]

A few from Michigan...

The old Wayne County Courthouse in downtown Detroit. It's still the executive and legislative seat of the county, but the courts have moved to a modern facility a few blocks away.

http://static.flickr.com/37/96574554_5db3534f6a_b.jpg
GirlInTheD - http://www.flickr.com/photos/girl-in-the-d/

http://static.flickr.com/35/95070420_638edc8dc0_b.jpg
Southen - http://www.flickr.com/photos/southen/

http://static.flickr.com/93/233300229_0d1e1e0aa9_b.jpg
Dave Hogg - http://www.flickr.com/photos/davehogg/

Van Buren County Courthouse (Southwest Michigan)

http://static.flickr.com/68/154525254_c2d0866e01_b.jpg
I am Jacques Strappe - http://www.flickr.com/photos/i_am_jacques_strappe/

Iron County Courthouse (Western UP)

http://static.flickr.com/112/282866862_f524d7a676_b.jpg
I am Jacques Strappe - http://www.flickr.com/photos/i_am_jacques_strappe/

Grand Traverse County Courthouse (Traverse City)

http://static.flickr.com/73/204299714_a662db672f_b.jpg
I am Jacques Strappe - http://www.flickr.com/photos/i_am_jacques_strappe/

Marquette County Courthouse (Marquette, UP)

http://static.flickr.com/99/255740861_4d417a0612_b.jpg
I am Jacques Strappe - http://www.flickr.com/photos/i_am_jacques_strappe/

Old Muskegon County Courthouse (Muskegon)

http://static.flickr.com/41/84547815_de92df9611_b.jpg
I am Jacques Strappe - http://www.flickr.com/photos/i_am_jacques_strappe/

[mczamalek]

This is Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court in Cairo, completed in 1999. It's considered to be Post-Modern, a crazy mixture of Pharonic, Coptic and Islamic architecture.

http://img279.imageshack.us/img279/8889/alc01jg1.jpg

[Comrade Reynolds]

This was Salt Lake City's original court house, which also is the city hall:

http://www.davehonan.com/slc04/city-hall-salt-lake-city-ut-06-29-04-l.jpg

http://images.fotop.net/albums/Sean84106/randonslc/DSCF1847.jpg

This is the current courthouse, built in the late 90s.

http://protophoto.com/images/d1/p34.jpg

http://www.utahlocations.com/locpics/slcnight08.jpg

And the current Frank E. Moss Federal Courthouse:

http://www.utb.uscourts.gov/images/cthouse.gif

And the expansion that's planned:

http://www.downtownrising.com/projects/images/courthouse.jpg

Nice? Well the old Salt Lake Court House definitely is and the Frank E. Moss one is historic. The current Matheson Courthouse isn't great, but still pretty nice for a new one.

[texcolo]

This is Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court in Cairo, completed in 1999. It's considered to be Post-Modern, a crazy mixture of Pharonic, Coptic and Islamic architecture.

http://img279.imageshack.us/img279/8889/alc01jg1.jpg

:banana:

I love this thing. It looks like the beginning of a new Kingdom... as in Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom.



You don't have any pictures of the modern extension next door? It has really neat faux architectual motiffs painted on the walls.

http://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/courthouse-night.jpg

[Exodus]

Another pic of the Wayne County Bldg. and its 247 foot tower.
http://steelflame.zoto.com/img/original/326b73ace8e6d06bb233ff77ad9cd78a-.jpg
:worship:

And for a modern courthouse, I'm loving this one in Utah. Thanks to Comrade Reynolds for posting this one.
http://protophoto.com/images/d1/p34.jpg
:worship:

Now let's see Phillys.

[Boquillas]

Wow, some really beautiful courthouses out there! I don't think the original post was about how Texas has the most beautiful courthouses, but that we are known for having so many pretty ones. (254 counties = a lot of courthouses!) Thanks John R. for posting the Tarrant County Courthouse-- always been one of my favorites. Would make a great state capitol building, too. San Antonio's (the old one I posted, not the new one) has always been a fave because of the assymetry from that entrance. I love assymetrical facades.

Oh, and here is Silver Bow County (Butte, MT)
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e312/paul_heaston/butte/PA280880.jpg

[KevinFromTexas]

Great shots of the Tarrant County Courthouse, John. I heard recently on PBS, they were talking about all the courthouse restorations going on in Texas. They mentioned the Tarrant County one and said the rotunda is 110 feet high. Have you ever heard of that height before, John? I'd like to add that as a fact to its page at Emporis, but I need a solid source for the fact.

Texas is lucky in that we have more counties than any other state with 254 of them. Texas has atleast one county that starts with every letter in the alphabet except for Q and X. Many of our courthouses were built between 1880 and 1910.

This website below is an excellent starting point for learning more about Texas courthouses. It features pages with pictures of the courthouses for all 254 counties plus the ones that aren't in use anymore. Fantastic website, I just wish they'd add a little bit more content for each page.

http://www.texascourthouses.com/


This is the art-deco Travis County Courthouse in Austin, built in 1930. It replaced an older 1876 courthouse elsewhere in downtown.
http://www.texascourthouses.com/Courthouse%20Photos/Travis.JPG

The one above replaced this courthouse which was built in 1876 across the street from the Capitol. It was torn down in 1964 for a parking lot of all things. Terrible loss, this was a beautiful building and unique in that the tower was placed at the northwest corner of the building instead of the center.
http://www.austinpostcard.com/images/postcards/courth3a.jpg

http://www.austinpostcard.com/images/postcards/courth4a.jpg

[LyndaleHoosier]

For Minneapolis (Hennepin County):

City Hall (old courthouse):
http://www.ukrchicago.com/graph/pics/mn_minneapolis.gif
http://collections.mnhs.org/VisualResources/VRDBImages/pf045/pf045752.jpg

Hennepin County Government Center:
http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2003/09/29_hughesa_hencoshooting/images/govcenter_large.jpg
Interior shot:
http://www.johnmartin.com/projects/images/00000056.gif

United States Federal Courthouse (Mpls):
http://www.gsa.gov/gsa/cm_attachments/GSA_OVERVIEW/minneapolis%20crthse%20new%20-%20216%20pixel_R2O-gK_0Z5RDZ-i34K-pR.JPG
http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en-commons/thumb/3/35/200px-Minneapolis_federal_courthouse.jpg

Former Federal Courthouse:
http://prescott.imbri.com/images/ftc/federal/P2020029a_federal.jpg

[jcchii]

some of these are great.

chicago also has a miesian federal courthouse (Dirksen US Cthouse) at 219 S. Dearborn.

It's main criminal courthouse at 26th and California was erected in 1929.

[DetroitSky]

More of the Wayne County Building in Detroit...
http://www.modeldmedia.com/galleries/Default/Story%20Images/Issue%2020/AIA/countybld03-300.jpg
http://www.aiami.com/images/Old_Wayne_County_Building.jpg

[UncleRando]

I've always liked this courthouse....Hamilton, OH (35 min. north of Cincinnati):
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e33/UncleRando/Hamilton/Courthouse2.jpg

through the trees:
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e33/UncleRando/Hamilton/Courthouse1.jpg

with some context:
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e33/UncleRando/Hamilton/Sightline1.jpg

[LyndaleHoosier]

This is the courthouse from my hometown (Miami County, Indiana)...I always thought it was pretty cool when I was growing up and still appreciate the style:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Peru-indiana-courthouse.jpg/300px-Peru-indiana-courthouse.jpg
http://www.in.gov/judiciary/citc/museum/postcards/images/small/miami02.jpg

Here is the original courthouse, which was also beautiful, but too small:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~inmiami/MCCRTHS.JPG

[village person]

No description needed.

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/3549/p30601315ez.jpg

[spyguy]

Besides the Daley Center, there are a few good courthouses nearby.

DeKalb County
http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/2466/sideviewdz9.jpg

Kane County
http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/5343/1364663979507008820ol2.jpg

Old DuPage County (now part of a new condo complex)
http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/2023/1808566453aaddb55e0tk4.jpg

[want2beaqui]

Its not the best pic but its such a beautiful building!!!
http://www.orangecountyshopping.com/A_images/AnaheimCityHall.jpg

[Migs]

Here is the court house in my hometown of Gravelbourg Saskatchewan Canada. Population:1300 :tup:

http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/CommunityMemories/ADFK/00aa/image/slide/ADFK00aa00eq.jpg

[VillageIdiot]

Some from Washington State

Spokane County Courthouse (Spokane). Built in 1891 One of my favs!
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2003/07/204144.jpg

King County Courthouse (Seattle). Built in the 1910s and enlarged in the 1920's.
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2001/12/134713.jpg

Pacific County Courthouse. Built in 1909 (South Bend, Washington)
http://www.pacificedc.org/IMAGES/Courthouse.jpg.

Columbia County Courthouse (Dayton, Washington) - County Population is about 4,100. Washington State's oldest Courthouse still in use.
http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/Population/Photos/Calvin44.jpg

Jefferson County Courthouse (Port Townsend, Washington) Built in 1891
http://www.opbba.com/op/areaphotos/big/pt/courthouse.jpg

Garfield County Courthouse (Pomeroy, Washington) Built in 1901 and is Washington's least populated county (about 2,800)
http://www.alanbauer.com/images/Cityscape/Garfield%20County%20courthouse%20in%20Pomeroy-Horz.jpg

[texcolo]

Here's the back (view of the mountians assured)...

http://www.denverskyscrapers.com/images/outersuburbs/lakewood/tallbuildings/jeffersoncocourthouse/Jeffersoncourthouse_2.jpg

The front entrance (parking is located underneath and off to the sides of this roadway)...

http://www.denverskyscrapers.com/images/outersuburbs/lakewood/tallbuildings/jeffersoncocourthouse/Jeffersoncourthouse_4.jpg

The west wing...

http://www.denverskyscrapers.com/images/outersuburbs/lakewood/tallbuildings/jeffersoncocourthouse/Jeffersoncourthouse_1.jpg

And a detail of the facade...

http://www.denverskyscrapers.com/images/outersuburbs/lakewood/tallbuildings/jeffersoncocourthouse/Jeffersoncourthouse_3.jpg

A view of the roof of the dome (houses the coffee shop 'Legal Grounds')...

http://www.evergreenphotoalliance.com/search/previews/epa-0047_lg.jpg

An overview of the county complex (includes jail and county offices)...

http://www.espioc.org/Jeffco%20Courthouse%20wd.jpg

[LMich]

Michigan's Supreme Court Building - Michigan Hall of Justice

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/104/254359898_16b21ab590_o.jpg
chetlyzarko - http://flickr.com/photos/61066090@N00/

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/119/280907835_debf8eb02d_b.jpg
jstealth03 - http://flickr.com/photos/jstealth03/

[Alxx611]

Would you consider this a beautiful courthouse?

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b375/Alxx611/downtown/DSCN0517.jpg

[john_mclark]

alexx611 i like old stuff but its still cool. what city is it in?

[ChicagoBruce]

Milwaukee County.

http://www.december.com/places/mke/images/coct.jpg

Brown County (Green Bay)

http://www.wrdaonline.org/CountyPhotos/Brown.jpg

[Alxx611]

alexx611 i like old stuff but its still cool. what city is it in?

Mobile, Al.

[Tex1899]

While the Greatest State in all the Land has many great courthouses, we have some bad ones, too. My family owns companies in both Houston and Corpus Christi, so I travel between the two cities quite often. I swear, that's the worst stretch for bad courthouses (ie new, 1950's)...

Edna (Jackson County)
http://www.texascourthouses.com/Courthouse%20Photos/Jackson.JPG

Port Lavaca (Calhoun)
http://www.texascourthouses.com/Courthouse%20Photos/Calhoun.JPG

Bay City (Matagorda)
http://www.texascourthouses.com/Courthouse%20Photos/Matagorda.JPG

Rockport (Aransas)
http://www.texascourthouses.com/Courthouse%20Photos/Aransas.JPG

Fortunately Wharton County's is being restored to its original grandeur.

http://www.texascourthouses.com/Courthouse%20Photos/Wharton.JPG before

http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Wharton/WhartonCountyCourthouse101705ACSheltonWhCoHistComm.jpg after

I'm fortunate enough to have been born in, and gone to college in counties with what many consider the 2 worst in the state:

Ector County Courthouse (Odessa)
http://www.texascourthouses.com/Courthouse%20Photos/Ector.JPG

Brazos County Courthouse (Bryan)
http://www.texascourthouses.com/Courthouse%20Photos/Brazos.JPG

The Hill County Courthouse burned in the early '90s and was rebuilt as the former version:
http://www.texascourthouses.com/Courthouse%20Photos/Hill.JPG

Fort Bend County (suburb of Houston) and Hays County (home to Texas State U.) are awefully similar...I think I read the same architect designed them...

Fort Bend
http://www.texascourthouses.com/Courthouse%20Photos/Fort%20Bend.JPG

Hays
http://www.texascourthouses.com/Courthouse%20Photos/Hays%20County%20wo%20XMAS%20for%20web.jpg

In addition to the one in Hillsboro (Hill County), here are a few more good ones:

Grimes County (Anderson)...I predict this will be a future weekend hamlet for Houstonians...and it's a courthouse circle, not a courthouse square
http://www.texascourthouses.com/Courthouse%20Photos/Grimes.JPG

Caldwell County (Lockhart)
http://www.texascourthouses.com/Courthouse%20Photos/Caldwell%20County%20-%20Lockhart%20restored%20-for%20web.jpg

Lee County (Giddings)...built on the highest point in the county...between Austin & Houston on US 290
http://www.texascourthouses.com/Courthouse%20Photos/Lee.JPG

Parker County (Weatherford), just west of Ft. Worth
http://www.texascourthouses.com/Courthouse%20Photos/Parker.JPG

Palo Pint County (Palo Pinto)...just west of Weatherford...went to junior high in this county...not necessarily the best
http://www.texascourthouses.com/Courthouse%20Photos/Palo%20Pinto.JPG

Victoria County (Victoria)...I have pictures of this with snow from '04 Christmas
http://www.texascourthouses.com/Courthouse%20Photos/Victoria%20County%20-%20Victoria.jpg

Hood County (Granbury)...very popular area for antiques
http://www.texascourthouses.com/Courthouse%20Photos/Hood.JPG

Fayette County (La Grange)...damn you Marvin Zindler!!! This was recently renovated...there's an atrium in the center of the building and when you're close up you can see the sunlight in the middle of the building
http://www.texascourthouses.com/Courthouse%20Photos/Fayette.JPG

I hope the pictures posted properly...I think this is the first or second time I've put pictures in a post.

[John R]

When the Hill County Courthouse burned in 1992, the limestone walls remained standing. Although the interior was gutted, there was enough of the original left to rebuild. If you noticed a similarity between the Parker, Hood, and Hill County Courthouses, you have a good eye. All three were designed by the same architect.

Texcolo, the reason I did not include the annex next to the Tarrant County Courthouse is because it is regarded as a separate building. It is called the Civil Courts Building. Another reason that I didn't include it is that it is doomed. The county passed a bond election to construct a new Civil Courts Building. At the current time, the existing building is being vacated and it has already been separated from the main Courthouse by demolition of a glass passageway. This being said, I do have a photograph of it.
http://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/civil.jpg

Kevin, I know several people at the County Courthouse including one of the Probate Judges, so I will ask to get the height of the rotunda.

[JimInCal]

Newer Phoenix, AZ city courts building with the low, white classical style building juxtaposed against the sandstone facade of the court building. I love how these buildings play off one another.

http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/9399/citycourt2he1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[LMich]

Clark County (Las Vegas) Regional Justice Center

http://www.lera.com/pimg/regionaljusticectr/1587852_large.jpg

Clark County Government Center

http://library.nevada.edu/arch/lasvegas/downtown01b02.jpg

http://www.martinandmartincivilengineers.com/images/clarkcnty.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/48/154942802_24ad977b7d_b.jpg
Miss Shari - http://flickr.com/photos/hamsters/

[Lakelander]

alexx611 i like old stuff but its still cool. what city is it in?

Mobile, Alabama

[jetsetter]

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/999/bexarcountycourthousepemw5.jpg
Bexar County Courthouse, San Antonio, Texas.

[KB0679]

Matthew J. Perry Federal Courthouse, Columbia, South Carolina:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Matthew_Perry_federal_courthouse.jpg

[Kevin]

The two Courthouses in Syracuse

http://www.pbase.com/ciceroclay/image/30067811.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/ciceroclay/image/33375962.jpg

http://www.123syracuse.com/