Tippecanoe County Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Tippecanoe County Courthouse
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Southern and western sides of the courthouse
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 Location in Tippecanoe County, Indiana
Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | Public Sq., Lafayette, Indiana |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1881-1884 |
| Architect | Farman & Pearce; Alexander, James F. |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival, Beaux-Arts, and Neoclassical |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000013 |
| Added to NRHP | October 31, 1972 |
The Tippecanoe County Courthouse is an important building in Lafayette, found in Tippecanoe County, Indiana. It sits right in the middle of the city on the public square. This square is located between 3rd and 4th Streets (north-south) and Main and Columbia Streets (east-west).
This courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. This means it's recognized as a special place with historical importance. It is also part of the larger Downtown Lafayette Historic District.
The History of the Courthouse
When Tippecanoe County first started in 1826, county business was done in rented rooms. Then, in 1829, the first courthouse was built. It was a two-story building made of brick.
Later, in 1845, a bigger brick courthouse was built for about $3,000. There was a small fire in this building once, but it was put out quickly before it caused much damage.
The courthouse you see today is the third one built on the same spot. It was constructed between 1881 and 1884. This grand building cost around $500,000, which was a huge amount of money back then! It is made from strong Indiana limestone and stands two-and-a-half stories tall on a raised base.
A famous writer named Samuel Clemens once visited Lafayette. A reporter asked him what he thought of the Tippecanoe County Courthouse. Twain joked that it must have "struck the taxpayers a mighty blow!" He was right, as it was the most expensive courthouse built in Indiana until the Allen County Courthouse was built about 20 years later.
The courthouse has many interesting features. It has 100 columns and nine statues. There's a tall dome with four clock faces and a large 3,000-pound bell that rings in C-sharp. On top of the dome, at 212 feet high, stands a 14-foot statue representing liberty.
An Event at the Courthouse
On August 2, 1998, a truck filled with gasoline and other materials crashed into the eastern entrance of the Tippecanoe County Courthouse. Luckily, local firefighters quickly put out the fire from the truck before any of the dangerous materials could catch fire.
To help prevent similar events in the future, county officials placed strong concrete barriers around the courthouse on August 11. This was done to make the building safer for everyone.
