Pierce County Courthouse (North Dakota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Pierce County Courthouse
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Pierce County Courthouse in 2008
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 Location in North Dakota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 240 2nd St SE, Rugby, North Dakota |
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| Built | 1908 |
| Architect | Buechner & Orth |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| MPS | Buechner and Orth Courthouses in North Dakota TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002924 |
| Added to NRHP | November 25, 1980 |
The Pierce County Courthouse in Rugby, North Dakota is a very old and important building. It was built way back in 1908. This courthouse was designed by architects named Buechner & Orth from St. Paul, Minnesota. They used a fancy style called Beaux Arts.
This building is so special that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This list helps protect important historical places across the country.
Contents
What is a Courthouse?
A courthouse is a building where important legal and government work happens. It's where judges hear cases and where local government officials have their offices. Think of it as the main office for the county's business.
Who Works at the Courthouse?
Many important people work here. The county commissioners, who help run the county, have a meeting room. There are also offices for the county auditor, treasurer, and register of deeds.
- The auditor helps manage the county's money and records.
- The treasurer takes care of the county's funds.
- The register of deeds keeps official records like property deeds and marriage licenses.
The Courthouse's Amazing Design
The Pierce County Courthouse has a very grand and detailed look. Its design makes it stand out.
Outside the Building
The front of the building is made of brown bricks and has special stone decorations. You can see tall stone columns that make it look very strong and old.
There's a tall tower in the middle of the building. It has columns and arched windows. On top of the tower is a shiny, silver-colored dome. This dome is huge, about 28 feet wide, and reaches 100 feet into the sky! A newspaper in 1910 said it was the best dome in the whole state.
Inside the Courthouse
Above the main entrance, there's a shield with two Latin words: "PAX" and "LEX." These words mean "peace" and "law."
Inside, the main hall and a round room called the rotunda are very fancy. They have purple (or dark red) marble on the lower part of the walls, which is called wainscoting. There are also pink marble pilasters, which are like flat columns on the walls.
The courtroom on the second floor has a special ceiling with decorative beams. You can also find four large paintings, called murals, inside. These murals show important historical scenes from Pierce County.
The Sheriff's Building
Next to the main courthouse, there's another two-story building. This building was once used as the sheriff's home and the county jail. It's part of the historic site too.
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