New York County Courthouse facts for kids

Quick facts for kids New York State Supreme Court Building
New York State Supreme Court Building in 2013
Former names	New York County Courthouse
General information
Location	60 Centre Street New York, NY, United States
Coordinates	40°42′51.2″N 74°0′5.5″W / 40.714222°N 74.001528°W / 40.714222; -74.001528
Current tenants	New York State Supreme Court New York County Clerk
Groundbreaking	1919
Opened	February 1927
Owner	City of New York
Design and construction
Architect	Guy Lowell

The New York State Supreme Court Building is a very important building in New York City. It is located at 60 Centre Street in an area called Foley Square in Manhattan. This building is where the New York State Supreme Court handles many legal cases for Manhattan. It also holds the offices for the New York County Clerk.

The building is made of granite and has a unique hexagonal (six-sided) shape. It was designed by Guy Lowell from Boston in a classical Roman style. Construction started in 1913 and finished in 1927. The work was delayed because of World War I. Both the inside and outside of the building are considered New York City Landmarks, meaning they are protected because of their historical importance.

History of the Courthouse

Lowell's first design from 1913 was circular and was never built.

The courthouse as it was built, with a hexagonal shape.

The architect for the courthouse was chosen through a special contest. Guy Lowell won this contest in 1913. His first idea was to build a round building, which would have been very expensive.

Why the Design Changed

Construction was put on hold because of World War I. After the war, the plans were changed. The new design was for a smaller, less costly hexagonal building. This new design was still in the Roman classical style. Building work finally began in 1919.

Opening of the Building

The courthouse was officially opened in February 1927. This happened just two weeks after the architect, Guy Lowell, passed away. Important judges like Benjamin Cardozo, Frederick E. Crane, and Irving Lehman were at the opening ceremony.

Building Design and Features

The New York State Supreme Court Building looks a lot like an ancient temple. It has many interesting features both outside and inside.

Exterior Design

A wide set of steps leads up from Foley Square to the main entrance. This entrance has a huge Corinthian colonnade, which is a row of tall columns. On top of these columns is a large triangular part called a pediment. This pediment is 140 feet (43 meters) long and has thirteen figures carved into it from granite.

Statues and Inscriptions

The pediment features three statues by Frederick Warren Allen. These statues represent Law, Truth, and Equity (fairness). Below the pediment, there is an inscription. It says: "The true administration of justice is the firmest pillar of good government." This quote is from a letter written by George Washington. Interestingly, it's a small misquote; Washington actually wrote "due administration," not "true administration."

The Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse (right) is next to the New York State Supreme Court Building (left) on Foley Square.

The large stone steps at the front used to have two big statues. These statues, called Justice and Authority, were made by the sculptor Philip Martiny. Justice is a female figure holding a shield and a scroll. Authority holds a scroll and a fasces, which was a Roman symbol of power. These statues were moved to the back of the building in the 1960s.

Interior Design

Inside the courthouse, the main area is a large round room called the rotunda. It is 200 feet (61 meters) around and rises 75 feet (23 meters) high to a dome. The rotunda also has ten beautiful stained-glass windows.

The "Law Through the Ages" Mural

The most famous part of the rotunda is a large circular mural called Law Through the Ages. This amazing artwork was painted by Italian artist Attilio Pusterla and his team between 1934 and 1936. It was part of a government program called the Federal Art Project during the Works Progress Administration. Pusterla also painted murals in other rooms of the courthouse.

The Law Through the Ages mural is divided into six sections. Each section shows two important figures from history who helped shape laws. These include figures from Assyrian and Egyptian times, Hebraic and Persian times, Greek and Roman times, and more. Above these figures are portraits of six famous lawgivers like Hammurabi and Moses.

In 1988, the mural was cleaned and repaired. This project helped protect the historic artwork from damage.

Nearby Buildings

The New York State Supreme Court Building is located in an area with many other important court buildings. Just to its south is the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse, which also faces Foley Square. Across the square, you can find the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building and the James L. Watson Court of International Trade Building. Other nearby court buildings include those for the New York City Criminal Court and the Surrogate's Courthouse.

Images for kids

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  New York County Courthouse Map, 1955–56

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  Under construction in 1924

See also

In Spanish: New York County Courthouse para niños