Linn County Courthouse (Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Linn 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 | May’s Island Cedar Rapids, Iowa |
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| Built | 1923-1925 |
| Architect | Joseph Royer |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| Part of | May's Island Historic District (ID78001240) |
| Added to NRHP | October 19, 1978 |
The Linn County Courthouse is an important building in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It sits on May's Island, right in the middle of the Cedar River. This courthouse, along with the Veterans Memorial Building and other nearby structures, is part of the May's Island Historic District. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 because of its special history. The Linn County Courthouse is actually the third building used by the county for its court cases and government work.
History of the Courthouse
Linn County needed a place for its government and courts. The very first courthouse was built in 1842 in a town called Marion. It was a two-story brick building and cost $40,000.
Later, Cedar Rapids wanted to be the main county town, also known as the "county seat." So, a second courthouse was built in Marion in 1855. In 1919, Cedar Rapids gave some land to the county for a new courthouse. People voted on a plan to spend $1.3 million to build it, but they didn't approve it. However, the county leaders kept planning. In 1922, voters finally approved a smaller amount of money for the project.
The courthouse you see today was designed by an architect named Joseph Royer. He was from Urbana, Illinois. He designed the building in a style called Beaux-Arts. The courthouse was finished in 1925 and cost just under $500,000. Joseph Royer also designed the old county jail, which used to be behind the courthouse.
In 2008, a big flood hit Iowa, and the courthouse was badly damaged. But don't worry, the building was fixed up and reopened in 2014.
Building Design and Features
The Linn County Courthouse is a three-story building made from a special kind of stone called Bedford stone. It sits on a strong granite base. The building has a main central part with two shorter sections on each side.
You'll notice some classic design elements, like a large, fancy entrance porch with nine sections. Ten tall, fluted columns stand at the entrance. These columns support a decorative top section and a low wall above it. Fancy stone panels are placed between the windows on two floors. There's also a stone railing around the front terrace. Balconies are on the first-floor windows, next to the main entrance. The sides and back of the building look simpler, but the decorative trim goes all the way around. Inside, the walls are made of a stone called travertine, and the floors are covered in shiny marble.
