Lee County Courthouse (Arkansas) facts for kids
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Lee County Courthouse
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Arkansas
Location in the United States
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| Location | 15 E. Chestnut St., Marianna, Arkansas |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1936 |
| Built by | Jennings and Samuel |
| Architect | George Mahan and Everett Woods |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, art deco |
| Part of | Marianna Commercial Historic District (ID00001559) |
| NRHP reference No. | 95001090 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 7, 1995 |
| Designated CP | January 4, 2001 |
The Lee County Courthouse is a special building in Marianna, Arkansas. It's where important government work for Lee County happens. Marianna is the "county seat," which means it's the main town for the county's government.
There have been a few courthouse buildings here over time. The newest and biggest one was built in 1936. It was designed by architects George Mahan Jr. and Everett Woods. This building is known for its cool mix of old and new styles: Colonial Revival and Art Deco. In 1995, the courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical place in the United States.
History of the Courthouse
Marianna became the county seat of Lee County in 1873. The very first courthouse was a simple wooden building. As the town grew, especially because of the cotton industry, a bigger red brick courthouse was built in 1890.
But even that building became too small! So, in the 1930s, instead of just adding to the old building, they decided to build a whole new, two-story part right next to it. This new section was much larger and had a fresh, modern look for its time. It was built with help from government funds.
Cool Architecture Styles
The Lee County Courthouse has a unique design that mixes two different styles:
- Colonial Revival: This style looks back to the grand buildings from early American history. You can see it in the tall columns and classic shapes.
- Art Deco: This style was popular in the 1920s and 1930s. It uses bold shapes, geometric patterns, and often has a sleek, modern feel.
Even though the Colonial Revival style was becoming less common by the 1920s, the Lee County Courthouse is a great example of how it was still used, but with a touch of the newer Art Deco look. The building has classic features like columns and pilasters (flat columns on a wall), but they are blended with the smooth, modern lines of Art Deco.
