Old Monroe County Courthouse facts for kids
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Old Monroe County Courthouse
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 Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Location | Courthouse Sq., Monroeville, Alabama |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1903 |
| Architectural style | Eclecticism |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000366, 100006236 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 26, 1973 |
| Designated NHL | January 13, 2021 |
The Old Monroe County Courthouse is a very old and important building in Monroeville, Alabama. It was the main courthouse for Monroe County from 1903 until 1963. This special building is famous because it inspired a well-known book and movie.
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A Special Building in Monroeville
This courthouse is a big part of Alabama's history. It is known as an important place for literature in Alabama. This is because of its connection to two famous writers, Harper Lee and Truman Capote. Both of them grew up in Monroeville.
Its Connection to Famous Authors
Harper Lee and Truman Capote spent their childhoods in Monroeville. The courthouse appeared in their stories. Truman Capote mentioned it in his book A Christmas Memory. Harper Lee used it as inspiration for the fictional courthouse in her famous novel, To Kill A Mockingbird.
Inspiring a Classic Story
The movie made from Harper Lee's book, To Kill a Mockingbird, was greatly influenced by this courthouse. The people who designed the movie sets visited the building. They measured and photographed it carefully. Then, they built a very similar copy of the inside of the courthouse on a sound stage in Hollywood. This copy was used for filming the courtroom scenes.
The movie producers first wanted to film inside the real courthouse in Monroeville. However, the town had changed a lot since Harper Lee was a child. Also, the sound quality inside the old courthouse was not good for filming. So, they decided to build the set at Hollywood instead.
From Movie Set to Museum
Because the movie set was so much like the real courthouse, many people in Alabama still think the movie was filmed in Monroeville. The Old Courthouse in Monroe County is now a special place. It hosts many plays of "To Kill a Mockingbird." It is also a museum. The museum celebrates several authors from Monroeville, including Harper Lee.
The courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. It was also named a National Historic Landmark in 2021. This means it is a very important historical site in the United States.
Visiting the Old Courthouse Today
Today, the Old Monroe County Courthouse is part of the Monroe County Museums. It is called the Old Courthouse Museum. The building has been carefully restored to look like it did in the 1930s. Visitors can see exhibits about Truman Capote and Harper Lee. It is a great place to learn about history and literature.
See also
