Washington County Courthouse (Stillwater, Minnesota)

Washington County Courthouse

The Washington County Courthouse from the north-northwest
Location 101 West Pine Street,
Stillwater, Minnesota
Coordinates 45°3′6″N 92°48′27″W / 45.05167°N 92.80750°W / 45.05167; -92.80750Coordinates: 45°3′6″N 92°48′27″W / 45.05167°N 92.80750°W / 45.05167; -92.80750
Area Less than one acre
Built 1867–1870
Architect Augustus F. Knight
Architectural style Italianate
MPS Washington County MRA (AD)
NRHP Reference # 71000443 [1]
Added to NRHP August 26, 1971

The historic Washington County Courthouse in Stillwater, Minnesota, United States, is one of the oldest standing courthouses in Minnesota. It was the center of Washington County government for over a century, from the building's completion in 1870 until 1975. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 for having state-level significance in the themes of architecture and government/politics.[2] It was nominated as Minnesota's oldest functioning courthouse and one of its few surviving examples of monumental public architecture from the mid-19th century.[3]

History

The courthouse was designed by Augustus Knight of St. Paul, in the Italianate style. When the courthouse opened in 1870, the county was doing a booming business in the lumber industry. The courthouse reflected the county's wealth and overlooked the city from atop Zion's Hill. The foundation is built of limestone, and the building has a brick facade and is topped with a prominent dome, cupola, and flagpole.[4]

When the county offices were moved to the new Washington County Government Center in 1975, efforts began to reuse the structure. Restoration has been funded through donations from local businesses and community groups, as well as grants from foundations.[4] The historic courthouse is still in operation and serves as a gathering place and as a venue for community, cultural, and private events. The mission statement states, "The purpose of the operation of the Washington County Historic Courthouse is to preserve, re-adapt, restore and interpret this historic landmark for current and future generations, especially those from Washington County." To this end, the county works with local groups to preserve and maintain the courthouse and grounds, conducts tours and provides historic interpretation of the county's heritage. The facility is also available for rental, which offsets some of the expenses of maintaining the structure.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ National Park Service (2006-03-15). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ "Washington County Courthouse". Minnesota National Register Properties Database. Minnesota Historical Society. 2009. Retrieved 2015-06-23.
  3. ↑ Cavin, Brooks (1970-12-10). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form: Washington County Courthouse" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
  4. 1 2 "Washington County, MN - Historic Courthouse". Washington County. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  5. ↑ "Washington County Historic Courthouse Annual Report 2005" (PDF). Washington County. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-09-30. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
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