Old Harrison County Courthouse
by Kathy White
Title
Old Harrison County Courthouse
Artist
Kathy White
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
The Old Harrison County Courthouse is located in the center of Whetstone Square in Marshall, Texas and is one of the most famous and admired buildings in Texas. It is the signature landmark of Marshall and is frequently used to represent East Texas in travel literature.
The Old Courthouse, built in 1900, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. From 1964 until 2000 the building housed the Harrison County Historical Museum. The building is noted as being the location of the first sit-ins in Texas.
The building’s dome is its most distinctive feature and stands above a four-level rotunda. The rotunda is crowned by a coffered or false dome. Between the coffered dome and the outer dome are the workings of four-faced clock, that has been recently restored. Eagle statues are perched wherever two sides of six-sided balustrade meet. A false belfry, reminiscent of the lantern on top of the United States Capitol building, is located on top of the outer dome. On the top of the belfry is a 6-foot-tall statue of Lady Justitia, which has the typical features of any Lady Justice: a blindfold, scales, and raised sword; as well as the rather atypical feature of a set of wings.
Marshall has long been famous for the elaborate holiday lighting of their courthouse. Strictly speaking, the building is technically the former courthouse. The current courthouse was built in 1964 and is located nearby.
Conceived in 1987, Wonderland of Lights Festival rivals the best Christmas lighting events in the country and is known as the “Granddaddy of Texas Lighting Festivals.” The Historic Harrison County Courthouse is at the center of events and visitors are enthralled with the nightly synchronized light and music shows. Festival activities take place throughout the city, but the epicenter is the downtown square, which comfortably accommodates crowds and carries a sparkling atmosphere each evening. After 40 years of inactivity - and 10 years of careful revitalization - The Old Harrison County Courthouse is now completely and authentically restored. Guided tours under the beautiful stained glass dome are available upon request.
Uploaded
January 5th, 2013
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Viewed 288 Times - Last Visitor from Beverly Hills, CA on 03/29/2024 at 10:08 AM
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Comments (9)
Nava Jo Thompson
Congratulations--on you sale--this is beautiful! fave and voted
Kathy White replied:
Thank you for the fave, vote and the congrats, Nava Jo!!! I appreciate you!! :)