Old Allamakee County Courthouse (Waukon, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Allamakee County Courthouse
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The museum in 2020
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 107 Allamakee St. Waukon, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1861 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| MPS | County Courthouses in Iowa TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000492 |
| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1977 |
The Old Allamakee County Courthouse is a special historic building in Waukon, Iowa, United States. Today, it is known as the Allamakee County Historical Museum. This building was finished in 1861. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. This means it is recognized as an important historical site. It was the second building used for the county's court and government work.
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A Long Fight for the County Seat
For many years, there was a big disagreement. Two towns, Waukon and Lansing, both wanted to be the county seat. The county seat is the main town where the county government offices are located. It's like the capital city for a county.
Choosing the County Seat
First, the Iowa government chose Jefferson Township. But people voted against this choice. Then, in 1851, Columbus became the county seat. Two years later, people asked to move the county seat closer to the middle of the county. Waukon won this vote by a lot.
Waukon's First Courthouses
In 1854, a wooden building in Waukon became the courthouse. Later, in 1857, a second building was built next to it. Both buildings served as the courthouse for a while. In 1859, Lansing offered to build a new courthouse for $8,000. Waukon made its own offer and won the vote.
The New Courthouse and More Fights
The building you see today was built for the courthouse in Waukon. It was finished in 1861 and cost $13,635. But the fight wasn't over! In the same year, Columbus and Lansing teamed up. They wanted the courthouse moved from Waukon. In an election in 1862, they beat Waukon by just 22 votes. So, the court and its records were moved to Lansing.
Another election happened in 1864, with similar results. The county sheriff, who lived in Waukon, tried to get the records back. He and his group took the records from Lansing. But horsemen from Lansing stopped them and made them return the records.
Waukon Wins in the End
Finally, in 1867, the Iowa Supreme Court made a decision. They ruled that Waukon was indeed the county seat. The building built in 1861 served as the county courthouse until 1940. That's when the current courthouse was built. The old courthouse then became a history museum between 1964 and 1966.
What Does It Look Like?
The Old Allamakee County Courthouse is a two-story building made of brick. It is built in a style called Greek Revival. This style looks a bit like ancient Greek temples.
Special Features
The building has a special shape, like a temple, but it doesn't have a large porch with columns (called a portico). On the roof, above the main entrance, there is a two-part tower called a cupola. This cupola has fancy trim and pairs of supports on both levels. It also has slatted openings (called louvers) where a bell might be. At the very top, there's a decorative ornament called a finial on its tin-covered dome.
Other cool parts of the building include a classic triangular shape (a pediment) above the entrance. It has a special edge that turns back (a returned cornice) and more paired supports. There are also simple brick columns (called pilasters) on all four sides. The windows have stone sills at the bottom and stone tops (called lintels).
Inside the Building
Even though the inside was changed a bit in the 1960s, it still has some original features. You can see the original metal ceilings (called tin ceilings). Most of the original wooden parts, like doors and frames, are still there. There's also a grand staircase that splits into two flights. It has large wooden posts (called newel posts) at the bottom and thin wooden railings (called spindles).
