Martin County Courthouse (Minnesota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Martin County Courthouse
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | Fairmont, Minnesota |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1907 |
| Built by | J. B. Nelson |
| Architect | Charles E. Bell |
| Artist (murals) | Franz E. Rohrbeck |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000755 |
| Added to NRHP | September 22, 1977 |
The Martin County Courthouse is a special building in Fairmont, Minnesota. It serves as the main office for Martin County, where important government work happens. The courthouse sits on a hill, looking over Lake Sisseton.
This building has a grand and fancy style called Beaux Arts. You can spot it by its tall copper dome with four clocks. The first floor is made of Michigan sandstone, and the upper floors use a lighter stone called Bedford limestone. The main entrance has a beautiful arch, with shiny double columns and a decorative top part.
What the Courthouse Looks Like
The Martin County Courthouse is a big, impressive building. It measures about 79 feet (24 meters) wide and 116 feet (35 meters) long. The roof itself is 50 feet (15 meters) high, and the very top of the dome reaches 58 feet (18 meters) into the sky.
The building's design, known as Beaux Arts, means it has a very formal and grand look. It often includes features like columns, arches, and detailed decorations. Here, you'll see tall, fancy columns called Corinthian order columns next to the main entrance. Above the entrance, there's a triangular shape called a pediment.
The courthouse is connected to the Martin County Security Building. This other building holds police offices and detention areas. They are linked by a walkway above ground and a tunnel below ground.
History of the Building
The Martin County Courthouse was designed by an architect named Charles E. Bell. It was built by J. B. Nelson between 1906 and 1907. The whole project cost about $125,000 back then.
Inside the courthouse, you can find amazing paintings called murals. These were created by Franz E. Rohrbeck from Milwaukee. The murals show different ideas like Peace, War, Inspiration, and Genius. The inside of the building also features beautiful marble counters, fancy metalwork, and colorful stained glass.
The large clock at the base of the dome was made by a famous clockmaker, Seth Thomas. It has four clock faces, each about 7 feet (2.1 meters) tall, so you can see the time from every side of the tower.
In late 2020, work began to fix up the courthouse. The main goal was to replace the copper roof, which was leaking. They also planned to repair the old clock parts inside the tower.
See also
In Spanish: Palacio de Justicia del Condado de Martin (Minnesota) para niños
