Yavapai County Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Yavapai County Courthouse
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The courthouse in 2017
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 Location in Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Location | 120 S. Cortez St., Prescott, Arizona |
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| Built | 1916 |
| Architect | William N. Bowman, Rogers & Ashton |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000241 |
| Added to NRHP | April 13, 1977 |
The Yavapai County Courthouse is a historic building in Prescott, Arizona. It's located at 120 South Cortez Street. The courthouse you see today was built in 1916. It was designed by an architect named William N. Bowman.
This important building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. This means it's recognized as a special place in American history. The courthouse plaza also features a statue of Bucky O'Neill. He was a famous "Rough Rider," a soldier who served with Theodore Roosevelt. A well-known Arizona Senator, Barry Goldwater, even announced his plan to run for president from the courthouse steps in 1964.
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History of the Yavapai County Courthouse
Early Days: The 1800s
In the mid-1800s, Yavapai County needed a place for its court. They rented space in a two-story wooden building. The first floor was a jail, and the upper floor had offices for county leaders. This building looks very different today. It's now a three-story building with shops and a dentist's office.
Soon, the county decided to build a brand new courthouse and jail. They wanted it right in the middle of town. Two local woodworkers, Wilson and Haskell, won the job. They built it for about $59,000, which would be over a million dollars today!
In 1874, soldiers built a bandstand on the plaza. City officials also planted pine trees. The new courthouse was finished on February 23, 1878. It was a red brick building with a basement, two stories, and a clock tower. The public could visit it starting September 3, 1878.
The building was designed in the Victorian style. It used sandstone from the Verde Valley for the bottom floor. Local bricks were used for the top floor. A large clock with an 800-pound bell came all the way from Boston, Massachusetts.
In 1892, the courthouse had a small fire. Rainwater got into the basement and mixed with lime, causing the fire. Even so, the county decided to add an $800 extension to the building that same year. Two years later, electricity was added to the building. The new addition needed repairs because it started to separate from the main building. The last change in the 1800s was a new bandstand in 1895. It was ready just in time for the Fourth of July celebration.
The 1900s: A New Building and Famous Visitors
Around 1900, the people of Prescott raised money for the statue. This statue honored the Rough Riders who were heroes from the 1898 Spanish-American War. In 1908, braces were added to the clock tower. This stopped it from swaying in the wind and ringing the bell by itself!
A year later, President Taft visited Prescott. The courthouse was decorated for his visit. In 1910, a new fountain was installed. A special Deodar Cedar tree was also planted on the plaza. This tree celebrated Arizona becoming a state. Boy Scouts later placed a plaque on a rock in front of it, calling it the "Arizona Statehood Tree."
When Arizona officially became a state in 1912, Yavapai County decided it was time for another new courthouse. The local newspaper said the old one was a "fire trap." So, in 1916, the county leaders approved plans for a new building. The newspaper even reported that the "southwest side of the courthouse is ready to collapse." County offices had to move to other buildings temporarily.
In October 1916, construction began on the new courthouse. Italian stonemasons worked with granite. The new building began to look like the Neoclassical Revival style. New sidewalks were put in, and the courthouse was finished in September 1918.
Many important people visited the courthouse. In 1938, New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia gave a speech on its steps. Today, a bridge is named after him. The first courthouse lighting event was held in 1954. In 1964, Senator Barry Goldwater announced his plan to run for president from the courthouse steps.
In 1971, public restrooms were added under the stairs on the western side. This was because more people were visiting the plaza for events. In 1977, the Yavapai County Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The old 1910 fountain was removed. Its "Lady Ermintrude" statue was given to the Sharlot Hall Museum after a winter freeze.
In 1986, the Prescott Kiwanis Club donated a new centerpiece for the fountain. In 1989, the All-Veterans Memorial was added to the west side of the plaza. The Yavapai County Courthouse also added a "Cowboy At Rest" statue on the south side of the plaza.
The 2000s to Today
In 2000, President George W. Bush, who was running for president at the time, visited the Prescott Courthouse. In 2008, another presidential candidate, John McCain, also visited. This was his only stop in his home state of Arizona during his campaign. The Yavapai County Courthouse was even named one of the Top 10 Public Places in America by a group called the American Planning Association.
Later, county officials found parts of the old "Lady Ermintrude" fountain. They decided to restore it! A company in Alabama that had the original statue design helped. Missing and broken pieces were remade. Yavapai County won an award for restoring the historic fountain. A special ceremony was held on June 29, 2018, to celebrate the fountain's return.
Architecture of the Courthouse
The Yavapai County Courthouse is built in the Neoclassical Revival Style. This style was popular from about 1895 to 1950. Buildings in this style often have certain features. They are usually two or two-and-a-half stories tall. They might have roofs that slope to the sides or are hipped. They also have decorative designs around doorways. You might see railings on porches and many different window shapes.
Experts say that interest in the Neoclassical Revival style grew after a big event in Chicago in 1893. This event, the Columbian World Exposition, featured many buildings designed in a classical style. These buildings were even lit up at night with electric lights! This inspired many builders and architects. While some homes used this style, it was most often used for public buildings and banks. This was because the style looked serious and important, which was expected for such places.
Images for kids
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The courthouse in 2017
