Houghton County Courthouse facts for kids
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Houghton County Courthouse
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Courthouse in 2018
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 401 E. Houghton St., Houghton, Michigan |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1886 |
| Architect | J. B. Sweatt |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000945 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 12, 1975 |
The Houghton County Courthouse is an important government building located at 401 E. Houghton Street in Houghton, Michigan. It's where many county offices are located. This historic building was recognized as a Michigan State Historic Site in 1974. A year later, in 1975, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which lists important places across the country.
History of the Courthouse
Houghton County, Michigan was first created in 1845. At that time, it covered the entire Keweenaw Peninsula. The main town for the county government, called the county seat, was Eagle River.
In 1861, the county was divided into two parts. The northern part of the Keweenaw became Keweenaw County. The southern part remained Houghton County. The village of Houghton was then chosen as the new county seat.
A simple wooden building was built in 1862 to serve as the first courthouse in Houghton. However, the copper mining business in the Keweenaw area grew very quickly. This made Houghton County's population much larger. Because of this growth, people decided to build a new, grander courthouse. This new building would show how successful and wealthy the area had become.
The county hired J. B. Sweatt, an architect from Marquette, to design the new courthouse. It was built on the same spot as the old wooden courthouse. The construction cost about $75,568.00. The first stone, called the cornerstone, was put in place on July 24, 1886. It even had a miner's symbol carved into it. The new courthouse was officially opened on July 28, 1887.
In the 1960s, the part of the courthouse that held the jail was found to be unsafe. A new building was constructed nearby to replace it. The courthouse itself underwent major repairs and improvements in the 1970s. More restoration work was done in 2003 and 2004. Today, the building still serves as a busy government office.
About the Courthouse Building
The Houghton County Courthouse is a unique building with an interesting design. It has two and a half stories and is made of brick and sandstone. The roof is a special type called a mansard roof. The building's main style is called Second Empire, but it also has parts from other styles.
The architect, J. B. Sweatt, used materials found nearby for his design. He used red sandstone for the decorative parts around the windows. The roof was made of copper, a metal common in the region. The building also features a tall, four-story tower and a part that sticks out, called a pavilion. Most of the outside walls are made of cream-colored brick. The red sandstone around the windows creates a nice contrast.
The inside of the courthouse was designed by Charles Eastlake from England. It has heavy, detailed plasterwork and fancy wooden decorations.
A newer, modern addition was built at the southwest corner of the building. This addition has five stories and includes a parking area.
See also
In Spanish: Palacio de Justicia del Condado de Houghton para niños
