Oregon Supreme Court Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oregon Supreme Court Building |
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Front of the building on State Street
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| General information | |
| Type | State government |
| Location | 1163 State Street Salem, Oregon United States |
| Coordinates | 44°56′15″N 123°01′39″W / 44.937509°N 123.027617°W |
| Construction started | 1913 |
| Completed | 1914 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | William C. Knighton |
The Oregon Supreme Court Building is a very important building in Salem, Oregon. It is where the highest courts in Oregon meet. These include the Oregon Supreme Court and the Oregon Court of Appeals. It also houses the Oregon Judicial Department, which manages the state's court system. This building is the oldest state government building in Oregon. It was finished in 1914 and has three floors. Today, it also holds the state's main law library.
Contents
Building History: A Look Back
The state's highest court used to meet in different places in Salem. In 1854, Oregon started building its first capitol building. The court was on the second floor of this building. But sadly, the building burned down in December 1855. Later, in 1876, a second capitol building was finished. The court then moved to the third floor of that building.
Building a New Home for Justice
In 1911, people decided the court needed its own building. A local architect named William C. Knighton designed it. He was the first official architect for the state. Construction started in 1913. The building was finished in early 1914. The first court meeting in the new building was on February 14, 1914. This date was also Oregon's 55th birthday as a state. The building cost about $320,000 to build.
Before 1939, the state library was also in this building. It was in the basement and on the first floor. In 1935, a big fire destroyed the capitol building nearby. Water used to fight that fire flowed into the Supreme Court Building's basement. This damaged many books in the library.
Storms and Renovations
On October 12, 1962, a huge storm hit Oregon. It was called the Columbus Day Storm. During this storm, the beautiful stained-glass skylight in the courtroom was damaged. This special skylight was made by Povey Brothers Art Glass Works. They were famous artists in the Northwest.
Starting in 1981, the building got a big makeover. The courtroom was updated with fancy Italian silk and new carpet. Even prisoners helped by building new furniture. The renovations finished in 2002. During this time, in 1989, the building became a local historic landmark. The stained-glass skylight was also fixed and made stronger. A clear protective skylight was added over it. In 2020, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a very important historic place in the country.
Building Design and Look
The outside of the building is made of cream-colored terra cotta. It has five fancy columns on the front. The design was made to look like the old Oregon Capitol building. Inside, the building has shiny marble floors and walls. There is also a beautiful spiral staircase. The courtroom uses special Philippine mahogany wood.
What Happens There Today
The Oregon Supreme Court Building is still very busy today. It has the main courtroom for the Supreme Court. The Oregon Court of Appeals also holds its hearings here. The building is also home to the Oregon Judicial Department. The Supreme Court judges have their offices on the third floor. This building is the oldest state government building in Oregon.
In 2006, new security rules were put in place. Visitors now sign in with an Oregon State Police officer. This officer is at a security desk near the main entrance. In 2019, the court moved out for a while. The building needed upgrades to make it stronger against earthquakes.
The State Law Library
The State of Oregon Law Library is on the second floor. It started in 1848 when Oregon became a territory. In 1851, a librarian was hired for it. This library mostly helped Oregon government officials. The library moved into the Supreme Court Building in 1914. In 2002, after renovations, its name changed. It used to be called the Oregon Supreme Court Library.
Today, the library is open to everyone. It is the biggest state government law library in Oregon. The library is on two levels: the second and third floors. It has about 165,000 books and documents. These include laws from all over the United States. It also has many old legal papers and magazines. The library is a special place where government documents are kept.
Some old documents include an 1854 copy of Oregon's laws. There is also a copy of the law that created the Oregon Territory in 1848. Other old books include one from 1569 about the Magna Carta. There are also books from the 17th and 18th centuries by famous legal writers. The library also has a very old, fancy safe. It traveled around Cape Horn a long time ago. The library has laws from all fifty states. It also works with other libraries in the area. Librarians are there to help people find information. There are also computers for legal research.
Images for kids
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The building around 1920
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Exterior of the building
