San Bernardino County Court House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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San Bernardino County Court House
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 351 N. Arrowhead Ave., San Bernardino, California |
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| Area | 7 acres (2.8 ha) |
| Built | 1927 |
| Built by | R. W. Westcott |
| Architect | Howard E. Jones |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 97001632 |
| Added to NRHP | January 12, 1998 |
The San Bernardino County Court House is an important building in San Bernardino, California. It is located at 351 N. Arrowhead Avenue. This building serves as the main courthouse for San Bernardino County, California. A courthouse is where legal cases are heard and justice is carried out.
The building was finished in 1927. Since then, it has been the center of local government. Other buildings are also on the grounds. These include a welfare building, a county library, and a heating plant. The area around the courthouse is well-kept. It has a fountain, a sundial, and a special plaque. You can also see parts of the old county courthouse there.
This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 12, 1998. This means it is recognized as a special place in American history.
Why a New Courthouse Was Built
In the 1920s, a strong earthquake hit the area. The old county courthouse was badly damaged. It was no longer safe for people to use. Because of this, the county leaders decided a new building was needed.
They looked at three different places for the new courthouse. Many people in the community liked the idea of a new building. So, the leaders bought a block of land on North Arrowhead Street. They also set aside $450,000 to build it. On November 17, 1925, R.W. Wescott was chosen as the builder.
Who Designed the Courthouse
A well-known local architect named Howard E. Jones (1885-1966) designed the new courthouse. He had previously suggested many ideas to fix the old building. Jones was inspired by the 1893 World Columbian Exposition in Chicago. This was a big world's fair that showed off new ideas in art and building.
He also drew ideas from the "City Beautiful" movement. This movement made styles like Classical Revival popular in the United States. These styles used grand, impressive designs.
What the Building Looks Like
The San Bernardino County Court House has a special design. It features large, classical columns. These columns go up two floors, from the second to the third. The roof has a decorative border called a parapet.
The windows are placed evenly across the building. The front of the building has parts that stick out. The courthouse is made of stone and stucco. Stucco is a type of plaster used on outside walls. Using unpainted stone and stucco together was an unusual choice for its time.
This courthouse is the only Classical Revival building left in the city.
