Frank M. Johnson Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse facts for kids
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Frank M. Johnson Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse
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 Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Location | 15 Lee St., Montgomery, Alabama |
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| Area | 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) |
| Built | 1932 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 98000611 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 3, 1998 |
| Designated NHL | July 21, 2015 |
The Frank M. Johnson Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse is an important federal building in Montgomery, Alabama. It was finished in 1933. This building is mainly used as a courthouse for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama.
It is also known as the United States Post Office and Courthouse—Montgomery. This is the name it has on the National Register of Historic Places, which lists important historical sites. In 1992, the United States Congress renamed the building. They honored Frank Minis Johnson, who was a judge there for many years. In 2015, it was named a National Historic Landmark, meaning it's a place of special national importance.
Contents
History of the Courthouse
By 1929, Montgomery needed a new federal building. The old offices were too small and spread out. In 1930, the United States Congress approved money for a new building. The government bought land where the Court Street Methodist Church stood for $114,000 in 1931. The church moved, and the old building was taken down.
The government chose Frank Lockwood, Sr., a local architect from Montgomery, to design the new building. He had designed other important buildings in the city. The first stone was laid on July 16, 1932. The building, which also had a post office, was finished and opened the next year.
Changes Over Time
In 1978, the post office moved to a new place downtown. The other offices in the building needed more room. So, an extra part, called an annex, was built. It was designed by a Montgomery company and finished in 2002.
Honoring Judge Frank M. Johnson Jr.
In 1992, the building was renamed to honor Judge Frank Minis Johnson. He was one of the most respected judges in the country. He worked in this building for almost 30 years. President Dwight D. Eisenhower chose him to be a district judge in Alabama in 1955.
Judge Johnson made many important decisions. These decisions helped to end unfair treatment based on race in Alabama. In 1956, he ruled that separate seating on Montgomery's buses was against the law. This ruling supported the Montgomery Bus Boycott. In 1965, he also ruled that the Civil Rights march from Selma to Montgomery could happen.
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter promoted him to a higher court. Judge Johnson continued to work as a judge until he passed away.
In 1997, the new annex building won an award for its design. The main building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. Then, in 2015, it became a National Historic Landmark.
Building Design and Style
The courthouse is on a special piece of land near several streets. It is also close to the historic Montgomery Bus Station. The way the land rises makes the building look even more impressive.
Architect Frank Lockwood, Sr., designed the building in the Renaissance Revival style. This style makes the building look strong and important. This was especially meaningful during the Great Depression, a difficult time in American history. The building uses good quality materials and shows excellent craftsmanship.
Outside the Building
The building has five floors. It is shaped like a "U" with an open space inside. The first floor is covered with large, rough limestone blocks. The upper floors have smooth limestone. The back of the building and the inside of the open space are made of brick.
The front of the building faces Church Street. It has two large sections at each end. These sections have tall columns that support triangular tops called pediments. The side facing Lee Street has a row of eight columns. The Court Street side has flat columns called pilasters. The main doors are made of bronze. They have designs of eagles and flowers.
The windows on the first floor are rounded at the top. The windows on the upper floors are rectangular. The roof is gently sloped and covered with red tiles. A small room on the roof was once used as a weather station.
Inside the Building
The main lobby on the first floor is very fancy. The floor has travertine marble with green marble trim. The walls are made of sandstone. The ceilings have square patterns with gold leaf. Some original brass windows and bronze grilles from the post office are still there.
The most important room inside is the U.S. District Courtroom on the second floor. This is where Judge Johnson made his famous rulings. The windows are surrounded by stone arches. Behind the judge's seat, there is a special painted area with white stars on a blue background. The wooden ceiling has an Italian Renaissance style design. It was repainted and re-gilded in the 1970s.
Another courtroom on the fourth floor has walls made of black walnut wood. This wood was also used in the judges' offices in the original building. Other original rooms include elevator lobbies and the law library. Throughout the building, you can see marble floors, marble walls, and bronze elevator doors with detailed designs.
The annex building, finished in 2002, has a design that matches the original building. It holds more judges' offices and courtrooms. Between 2002 and 2006, the original building was updated inside. This made it better for the court's needs today.
Key Moments in History
- 1933: The building was finished.
- 1955: Frank M. Johnson Jr. became a District Judge.
- 1956: Judge Johnson ruled that separate bus seating was against the law.
- 1965: Judge Johnson allowed the Selma to Montgomery march to happen.
- 1978: The Post Office moved out of the building.
- 1992: The building was renamed to honor Judge Johnson.
- 1998: The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 2002: The new annex building was completed.
- 2015: The building was named a National Historic Landmark.
Images for kids
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The Frank M. Johnson Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse
