Allen County Courthouse (Indiana)

Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox NRHP The Allen County Courthouse is located at the block surrounded by Clinton/Calhoun/Main/Berry Streets in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana, the county seat of Allen County. Built between 1897 and 1902, it is a nationally significant example of Beaux-Arts architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and was designated a National Historic Landmark on July 31, 2003.

History

Designed by Brentwood S. Tolan, construction began in 1897, the cornerstone was laid November 17, 1897. The building was dedicated September 23, 1902, with a final cost of $817,553.59 ($250 million today). Present at its dedication were Mayor Henry C. Berghoff and Governor Winfield T. Durbin. President Theodore Roosevelt was scheduled to attend, however, he ultimately was not present. On September 23, 2002, the building was re-dedicated on its centennial after a seven-year restoration effort, which cost $8.6 million.<ref>(2002-09-23). Restoration does justice—The finished work awes and amazes visitors. The News-Sentinel. Retrieved on 2009-07-25.</ref>

File:Allen County Courthouse (Indiana) Cupola and Roof.jpg

Rotunda seen at night

Architectural details

The Beaux-Arts architecture-style structure includes such features as four Template:Convert murals by Charles Holloway, twenty-eight different kinds of scagliola covering Template:Convert, bas-reliefs and art glass. Each of the five court rooms has its own color scheme.

Atop the building is a Template:Convert copper-clad domed rotunda, itself topped by a Template:Convert statue wind vane of Lady Liberty. The larger than life statue has feet that would wear a woman's shoe size of 28.Template:Citation needed

File:Dome detail, Allen County Courthouse, 715 South Calhoun Street, 4-2001 (Fort Wayne, Ind.) - DPLA - b544604feba255766aa1faf0cbb602f3.jpg

Interior dome detail of Allen County Courthouse

File:Cupola details of Allen County Courthouse in Fort Wayne Indiana.jpg

Details of the rotunda atop the courthouse

The building materials include Bedford Limestone and Vermont granite with Italian marble details. A tunnel was constructed to connect the Courthouse with the City-County Building located across the street. The Courthouse also houses a fallout shelter underground. The skylights originally built into the building were covered during World War II and replaced with artificial light.Template:Citation needed

File:Mural detail, Allen County Courthouse, 715 South Calhoun Street, 1994 (Fort Wayne, Ind.) - DPLA - af8638045ed838b1b67b45cfdd9b4e31.jpg

Interior detail of Mural

The 2001 National Historic Landmark Nomination says in its opening paragraph: "An elaborate combination of Greek, Roman, and Renaissance influences, the massive courthouse reflects the exuberant ambition of late nineteenth century America."<ref name="nrhpinv2">Template:Cite book and Template:NHLS url Template:Small</ref>

See also

• List of tallest buildings in Fort Wayne
• List of National Historic Landmarks in Indiana
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Allen County, Indiana

References

• Hawfield, Michael and Michael Westfall, The Allen County Court House: A National Treasure Restored. The Allen County Court House Preservation Trust, Guild Press, 2002.