beautiful courthouses - Page 2

LMich · #21 Posted **Dec 14, 2006, 3:27 AM**

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.

JManc · #22 Posted **Dec 14, 2006, 3:58 AM**

we have four in harris county

the two now in use:

criminal court (2001) i hate this building.

and the civil courts building(2005)

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

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

Visiteur · #23 Posted **Dec 14, 2006, 6:59 PM**

Onondaga County Courthouse (NY)

Oswego County courthouse (NY)

Tompkins County Courthouse (NY)

Oneida County Courthouses- there are two, one for each major city in the county.

Rome

Utica
Cortland county Courthouse

ExcaliburKid · #24 Posted **Dec 14, 2006, 7:04 PM**

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 · #25 Posted **Dec 14, 2006, 9:16 PM**

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

bryson662001 · #26 Posted **Dec 14, 2006, 10:24 PM**

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.

JManc · #27 Posted **Dec 15, 2006, 12:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Visiteur

Oneida County Courthouses- there are two, one for each major city in the county.

Rome

Utica

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

John R · #28 Posted **Dec 15, 2006, 2:25 AM**

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.

Interior Photos:

Rotunda Dome:

Corridor:

JManc · #29 Posted **Dec 15, 2006, 3:31 AM**

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

LMich · #30 Posted **Dec 15, 2006, 3:49 AM**

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.

GirlInTheD - http://www.flickr.com/photos/girl-in-the-d/

Southen - http://www.flickr.com/photos/southen/

Dave Hogg - http://www.flickr.com/photos/davehogg/

Van Buren County Courthouse (Southwest Michigan)

I am Jacques Strappe - http://www.flickr.com/photos/i_am_jacques_strappe/

Iron County Courthouse (Western UP)

I am Jacques Strappe - http://www.flickr.com/photos/i_am_jacques_strappe/

Grand Traverse County Courthouse (Traverse City)

I am Jacques Strappe - http://www.flickr.com/photos/i_am_jacques_strappe/

Marquette County Courthouse (Marquette, UP)

I am Jacques Strappe - http://www.flickr.com/photos/i_am_jacques_strappe/

Old Muskegon County Courthouse (Muskegon)

I am Jacques Strappe - http://www.flickr.com/photos/i_am_jacques_strappe/

mczamalek · #31 Posted **Dec 15, 2006, 6:35 AM**

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.

Comrade · #32 Posted **Dec 15, 2006, 6:57 AM**

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

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

And the current Frank E. Moss Federal Courthouse:

And the expansion that's planned:

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 · #33 Posted **Dec 15, 2006, 8:49 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

Exodus · #34 Posted **Dec 15, 2006, 9:39 AM**

Another pic of the Wayne County Bldg. and its 247 foot tower.

And for a modern courthouse, I'm loving this one in Utah. Thanks to Comrade Reynolds for posting this one.

Now let's see Phillys.

Boquillas · #35 Posted **Dec 15, 2006, 10:57 PM**

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)

KevinFromTexas · #36 Posted **Dec 16, 2006, 8:38 AM**

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.

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.

LyndaleHoosier · #37 Posted **Dec 16, 2006, 3:38 PM**

For Minneapolis (Hennepin County):

City Hall (old courthouse):

Hennepin County Government Center:

Interior shot:

United States Federal Courthouse (Mpls):

Former Federal Courthouse:

jcchii · #38 Posted **Dec 16, 2006, 3:48 PM**

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 · #39 Posted **Dec 16, 2006, 4:56 PM**

More of the Wayne County Building in Detroit...

UncleRando · #40 Posted **Dec 16, 2006, 5:22 PM**

I've always liked this courthouse....Hamilton, OH (35 min. north of Cincinnati):

through the trees:

with some context: