Richmond County Courthouse (Staten Island) facts for kids
The Richmond County Courthouse is an important building in Staten Island, New York City. Built in 1919, it's a special kind of building called a courthouse. It helps run things for Richmond County, which is the same area as Staten Island itself. This courthouse has a grand, old-fashioned look, called neoclassical style. You can find it on Richmond Terrace, right next to Staten Island's Borough Hall and across from the St. George Terminal, where the Staten Island Ferry arrives.
Inside the building, you'll find the Richmond County Surrogate's Court. This court handles important family matters, like wills and estates. It also houses parts of the State Supreme Court that deal with marriage and family cases. Some other court offices used to be here, but they moved to a new courthouse nearby in 2015.
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Richmond County Courthouse
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Northeast or harbor-side facade
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 Location in New York City
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| Location | 18 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, New York |
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| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) (incl. neighboring Borough Hall) |
| Built | 1919 |
| Architect | Carrere & Hastings |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals |
| NRHP reference No. | 83004150 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 6, 1983 (as Staten Island Borough Hall and Richmond County Courthouse) |
The Courthouse Story
The building of the Richmond County Courthouse started on December 27, 1913. However, work slowed down because of World War I. Finally, the courthouse opened its doors on November 3, 1919. It was built to replace an older courthouse from 1837, which was several miles away.
When it first opened in 1919, the building was home to a Supreme Court judge and a Surrogate judge. The Surrogate also worked as a City Court judge. The County Clerk and the District Attorney also had their offices here. Important county records were kept in the building, and a law library was started the next year.
Over the years, some offices moved out. The District Attorney left in 1979. The County Clerk and the county records moved across the street in 1999, and the law library followed in 2000. Most of the Supreme Court offices moved to a new courthouse in late 2015, but the parts dealing with marriage cases stayed.
This historic building is recognized as a New York City Landmark. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important part of history for the whole country.
How the Courthouse Looks
The Richmond County Courthouse was designed by a famous architectural firm called Carrere and Hastings. They also designed the Staten Island Borough Hall, which is right next door and was built in 1906. The courthouse's style is often described as Roman-inspired neoclassical. Some also say it has a Renaissance Revival look with a Greek Revival entrance.
The building is shaped like an "L" and sits on a hill that slopes up from the harbor. It shares the block with Borough Hall. In front, facing the harbor, there's a beautiful French garden between the two buildings. A grand set of stairs leads up from Richmond Terrace to the main entrance. This entrance has a special triangular top, called a pediment, supported by six large and fancy columns. These columns are known as Corinthian columns.]
