Faribault County Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Faribault County Courthouse
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Faribault County Courthouse
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| Location | 415 N. Main Blue Earth, Minnesota |
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| Built | 1891 |
| Architect | S.J. Hoban; C.S. Dunham |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| MPS | Faribault County MRA (AD) |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000731 |
| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1977 |
The Faribault County Courthouse is an important building located in Blue Earth, Minnesota, in the United States. It's so special that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized for its historical and architectural importance. This courthouse is where many important decisions for Faribault County are made.
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A Look at the Faribault County Courthouse
The Faribault County Courthouse was finished in December 1892. Building it cost about $70,000, which was a lot of money back then! The architects who designed this impressive building were S.J. Hoban and C.S. Dunham.
Building Materials and Design
The courthouse was built using several interesting materials. The main stone used was Kasota limestone, which is a type of yellow-pink limestone found in Minnesota. Sand from the nearby Blue Earth River bottoms was also used.
The lower part of the building, called the ground floor, has a rough, textured stone look. This style is called rusticated sandstone. Above this, the building is made of red brick. The roof is covered with clay tiles, which are very durable.
Unique Architectural Style
The Faribault County Courthouse is a great example of the Richardsonian Romanesque architectural style. This style was popular in the late 1800s and is known for its strong, castle-like appearance.
Arches and Details
One key feature of this style is the use of large, rounded arches. At the main entrance of the courthouse, you'll see arches resting on short columns. These columns have special carvings at the top, called foliated capitals, which look like leaves or plants.
Between the arches, there's a unique carving of a gargoyle. This one looks like the head of a satyr, which is a mythical creature from ancient stories that is part human and part goat.
The Tall Tower
The most striking part of the courthouse is its tall tower. It stands seven stories high and is located right on one of the building's corners. This tower makes the courthouse easy to spot and adds to its grand appearance.
