The Polk County Courthouse in Des Moines, Iowa, United States, was built in 1906. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 as a part of the County Courthouses in Iowa Thematic Resource. The courthouse is the third building the county has used for court functions and county administration.
Video Polk County Courthouse (Iowa)
History
Polk County built its first courthouse in 1847 for $2,015. The building, which was constructed of brick, measured 26 by 52 feet (7.9 by 15.8 m). It was sold to a church for $800. The second courthouse was built in 1858 for $94,000. The two-story Italianate structure, designed by J.C. Farrand, featured a dome. An addition was made to the building at a later date.
The present courthouse was built in 1906 on the same square as the previous courthouse. It was built for $750,000 in the Beaux-Arts style. The 242 by 132 feet (74 by 40 m) was designed by the Des Moines architectural firm of Proudfoot & Bird. The four-story structure features a tall three-stage clock tower. The original columns, stairways, and walls were constructed in marble. Murals on the fourth floor were painted by Charles A. Cummings and Edward Simmons. It is one of the largest county courthouses in the state, and one the most architecturally significant.
Maps Polk County Courthouse (Iowa)
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
0 Comments