New Haven City Hall and County Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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New Haven City Hall and County Courthouse
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New Haven City Hall
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 161 Church Street, New Haven, Connecticut |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1861 |
| Architect | Henry Austin and David R. Brown |
| Architectural style | Gothic, High Victorian Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001940 |
| Added to NRHP | September 9, 1975 |
The New Haven City Hall and County Courthouse is a really important building in New Haven, Connecticut. It's located right in the center of the city. This special place actually has two main parts: the City Hall building and the old County Courthouse building. They both stand proudly near the New Haven Green, which is a big park in the city.
Contents
New Haven's Historic Buildings
A Look Back in Time
The City Hall building was finished in 1861. It was designed by a talented architect named Henry Austin. A bit later, between 1871 and 1873, the old courthouse building was built. It was designed by David R. Brown. Today, this old courthouse building is used as an annex, meaning it's an extra part of the main building.
These two buildings are very special because they are early examples of a style called High Victorian Gothic architecture in the United States. This style uses lots of different colors, textures, and shapes to make buildings look grand and detailed.
A Place of History
In 1975, both buildings were added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This list includes places that are important to the history of the country. Being on this list helps protect these buildings for future generations.
The City Hall building used to have a very tall clock tower. It was a striking feature that stood high above the city.
The Amistad Memorial
In 1992, a special memorial was placed in front of City Hall. It faces the New Haven Green. This memorial remembers the people involved in the Amistad incident. This was a very important event where Africans were held and tried right at this location. The memorial helps us remember this part of history.
Modern Energy for Old Buildings
In January 2012, something very modern was added behind City Hall in Millennium Plaza. It was a special energy system called a PureCell Model 400. This system helps the buildings use less energy.
The PureCell system creates heat that is used to warm and cool both City Hall and the Hall of Records building. It can provide about 60 percent of the heat these buildings need and 30 percent of their cooling. Experts believe this system could help the city save a lot of money on energy costs, possibly up to $1 million over ten years. This shows how old buildings can use new technology to be more eco-friendly.
