Allen County Courthouse (Indiana) facts for kids

Allen County Courthouse
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Allen County Courthouse
Location in Indiana Show map of Indiana Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	715 South Calhoun Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States
Area	about 1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built	1902
Architect	Brentwood S. Tolan
Architectural style	Beaux-Arts
NRHP reference No.	76000031
Quick facts for kids Significant dates
Added to NRHP	May 28, 1976
Designated NHL	July 31, 2003

The Allen County Courthouse is a very important and beautiful building in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana. It's the main building for Allen County where many important government activities happen. This amazing building was constructed between 1897 and 1902. It's a great example of Beaux-Arts architecture, which is a fancy style of building design. Because it's so special, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Later, in 2003, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's one of the most important historic places in the entire United States!

History of the Courthouse

Building a Landmark

The Allen County Courthouse was designed by a talented architect named Brentwood S. Tolan. Construction started in 1897. The first stone, called the cornerstone, was placed on November 17, 1897. It took five years to build this huge courthouse.

Grand Opening and Restoration

The building was officially opened on September 23, 1902. The total cost to build it was about $817,553.59 back then. That would be like spending around $250 million today! Important people like Mayor Henry C. Berghoff and Governor Winfield T. Durbin were there for the dedication.

Many years later, the courthouse needed some care. A big restoration project began. It took seven years and cost $8.6 million to make the building look new again. On September 23, 2002, exactly 100 years after it first opened, the courthouse was celebrated again.

Architectural Wonders

Beaux-Arts Style and Art

The Allen County Courthouse is a fantastic example of Beaux-Arts architecture. This style is known for being grand and decorative. Inside, you can see four huge murals, which are large paintings on walls. These murals were created by an artist named Charles Holloway. Each mural is about 25 feet wide and 45 feet tall.

The building also features something called scagliola. This is a special material that looks like expensive marble. There are 15,000 square feet of scagliola inside, using 28 different kinds! You can also find bas-reliefs, which are sculptures that stick out slightly from a flat surface. Beautiful art glass adds to the building's charm. Each of the five courtrooms has its own unique color scheme.

The Dome and Lady Liberty

On top of the courthouse, there's a huge copper-covered dome called a rotunda. It stands 255 feet high! At the very top of the dome is a 14-foot statue of Lady Liberty. This statue acts like a wind vane, showing which way the wind is blowing. Lady Liberty is so big that her feet would wear a woman's shoe size of 28!

Building Materials and Hidden Features

The courthouse was built using strong materials. These include Bedford Limestone and Vermont granite. Inside, you'll find beautiful Italian marble details.

There's even a tunnel that connects the courthouse to the City-County Building across the street. Deep underground, the courthouse also has a fallout shelter. This was built for safety during emergencies. The building originally had skylights to let in natural light. However, these were covered during World War II and replaced with electric lights.

The courthouse is a mix of Greek, Roman, and Renaissance styles. It shows the grand dreams of America in the late 1800s.

See also

In Spanish: Allen County Courthouse (Indiana) para niños

• List of tallest buildings in Fort Wayne
• List of National Historic Landmarks in Indiana
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Allen County, Indiana

Images for kids

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  The rotunda seen at night

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  Interior dome detail of Allen County Courthouse

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  Details of the rotunda atop the courthouse

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  Interior detail of a mural