Old Iroquois County Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Iroquois County Courthouse
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The courthouse in 2006, photographed by Calvin Beale
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | Cherry St. at 2nd St., Watseka, Illinois |
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| Area | 1.3 acres (0.53 ha) |
| Built | 1866 |
| Built by | Mantor, A.C. |
| Architect | Leach, C.B. |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000663 |
| Added to NRHP | June 13, 1975 |
The Old Iroquois County Courthouse, now called the Iroquois County Museum, is a history museum in Watseka, Illinois. This building was once the main courthouse for Iroquois County from 1866 until 1964. It was designed by C.B. Leach and built by A.C. Mantor. The building has a special style called Italianate, which means it looks like old Italian buildings.
Besides being a courthouse, the building also held county offices and even served as the county jail. The sheriff, who is like the head police officer, lived there too. Over the years, the building changed a bit. In 1881, a new part was added. The original eight-sided tower was replaced with a square one. Later, in 1927, another section was built. At that time, the copper dome on top was removed and replaced with a different type of roof called a mansard roof.
Contents
From Courthouse to Museum
When a new courthouse was built in 1964, officials first planned to tear down the old one. But people in the community really wanted to save it. Their strong opinions convinced the county to keep the building for a while.
Saving a Historic Building
The old courthouse sat empty and uncared for until 1967. That year, a group called the Iroquois County Historical Society was formed. This group bought the building to turn it into a museum. This was a big step in preserving local history.
What You Can See at the Museum
Today, the Iroquois County Museum is a great place to learn about the area's past. It has a special library for finding family history records. You can also see collections of cool things like minerals and fossils. There are also old Native American tools and art, antique dolls, and many other historical items. The room where court cases used to happen is now a theater and concert hall. It's a place where people can enjoy shows and music.
National Recognition
The Old Iroquois County Courthouse is an important historical site. On June 13, 1975, it was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes buildings and places across the United States that are important to history.
