Allamakee County Court House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Allamakee County Court House
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 110 Allamakee St. Waukon, Iowa |
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| Built | 1940 |
| Built by | Rye & Henkel |
| Architect | Charles Altfillisch |
| MPS | PWA-Era County Courthouses of IA MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000827 |
| Added to NRHP | August 28, 2003 |
The Allamakee County Court House in Waukon, Iowa, United States, is an important building. It was built in 1940. This courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a special place recognized for its history. It was added to the list in 2003. This building is the third one used by Allamakee County for its court and government work.
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History of the Allamakee County Courthouse
A Long Fight for the County Seat
For many years, there was a big disagreement. Two towns, Waukon and Lansing, both wanted to be the county seat. The county seat is the main town where the county government is located. People held ten elections to decide this before the American Civil War.
From 1854 to 1861, a wooden building in Waukon served as the courthouse. Then, a more lasting courthouse and jail were built in Waukon. This cost $13,635 and was finished in 1861. In 1867, the Iowa Supreme Court finally decided the argument. They ruled that Waukon would be the county seat. The 1861 building was used as the courthouse until 1940.
Building a New Courthouse
In 1938, the county leaders applied for help. They asked the Public Works Administration (PWA) for money. The PWA was a government program that helped build things during the Great Depression. The PWA agreed to pay for 45 percent of the new courthouse cost.
Later that year, on September 22, voters approved a plan. They agreed to sell $105,000 in bonds to pay for construction. Bonds are like loans that people buy from the government. Decorah architect Charles Altfillisch was chosen to design the building. In March 1939, bids were reviewed. Rye & Henkel from Mason City, Iowa won the building contract. The Allamakee County Court House was the last PWA-funded courthouse built in Iowa.
Design and Style of the Courthouse
The courthouse building has a special look. Its style is called Depression Modern or PWA Moderne. The outside of the building uses pressed brick and Bedford limestone.
Inside, long hallways run through the building. Different county offices open up from these hallways. The inside has a simple color scheme, mostly one color or shades of it. The floors are made of terrazzo, laid out in large squares. The hallways have plaster and marble finishes. Aluminum handrails are used on the staircases. An American Civil War monument from the 1920s stands on the courthouse grounds.
