Keokuk County Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Keokuk County Courthouse
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | Main St. Sigourney, Iowa |
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| Built | 1909-1911 |
| Built by | J.L Simmons |
| Architect | Wetherell & Gage |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Part of | Public Square Historic District (ID99000487) |
| MPS | County Courthouses in Iowa TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000251 |
| Added to NRHP | July 2, 1981 |
The Keokuk County Courthouse in Sigourney, Iowa, United States, is an important building that was finished in 1911. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized as a special historical site. It's also part of the Public Square Historic District, a group of important buildings around the town square. This courthouse is the fourth building that Keokuk County has used for its court and government offices.
History of Keokuk County's Courthouses
Keokuk County built its very first courthouse in Sigourney way back in 1845. This first building was made of logs and cost $218. It was about 24 feet long and 20 feet wide (that's about 7.3 by 6.1 meters). Besides being a courthouse, it also served as a jail, a school, a public hall, and even a hotel!
Later, in the late 1840s, the main town for the county (called the county seat) moved to Lancaster. A new two-story wooden courthouse was built there in 1848 for $699.
By the mid-1850s, the county seat moved back to Sigourney. So, a new courthouse was built in 1858 for $17,200. This building was updated many times over the years.
The courthouse you see today started being built in 1909. It took two years to finish and was completed in 1911. The total cost for this impressive building was $150,000.
What the Courthouse Looks Like
The Keokuk County Courthouse was designed in a style called Classical Revival. This style often looks like ancient Greek or Roman buildings. The architects were a firm from Des Moines called Wetherell & Gage. The building was constructed by J.L Simmons.
The design of the courthouse was influenced by the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. This big fair showed off many buildings in the Classical Revival style.
The courthouse is made of Bedford limestone, which is a strong, light-colored stone. It sits on a raised basement level. Each side of the building has a special entrance area called a frontispiece. These areas feature large, attached columns (called engaged columns) that are in the Ionic order. This means they have scroll-like shapes at the top.
The very top of the courthouse has a clock tower and a small dome-like structure called a cupola.
Around the courthouse square, you can also find other historical items. These include a fountain, a bandstand, and a monument honoring the American Civil War. The courthouse is important because it represents the county government and shows the power and importance of Sigourney as the county seat.
