National Register of Historic Places

Merced County Courthouse

Merced, Merced County, California
Listed
October 29, 1975
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
75000441

About this property

The Merced County Courthouse is the historic county courthouse in Merced County, California. Located at the intersection of W. 21st and N Streets in Merced, the building served as Merced County's courthouse from 1875 until 1975. A. A. Bennett, an architect who also worked on the California State Capitol, designed the building. The building's Italian Renaissance design was styled to resemble a palazzo; it features a white plaster exterior, a portico with a balcony on the south side, and a cupola atop the roof. A nearly identical courthouse was built in Fresno County at the same time; this building was modified extensively and later demolished, leaving the Merced County Courthouse as the only remaining example of its design. The building's architecture is unique within the southern Central Valley; in its National Register nomination, the courthouse was called "the best example of the Italian Renaissance revival remaining between Sacramento and Los Angeles". The building is now a museum of local history known as the Merced County Courthouse Museum that is operated by the Merced County Historical Society. Exhibits include the Superior Courtroom, a historic schoolroom and blacksmith shop. The Merced County Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 29, 1975.

Location

Merced, Merced County, California
37.30646, -120.48458

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Native Heritage
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Nearby Historic Sites

Merced County High School
Industrial
0.1 mi
Strand Theater
Industrial
0.3 mi
Cook, Maj. George Beecher, House
Industrial
0.3 mi
Leggett, Thomas H., House
Industrial
0.3 mi
Tioga Hotel
Industrial
0.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Merced County Courthouse listed on the National Register?

Merced County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 29, 1975.

What type of historic resource is Merced County Courthouse?

Merced County Courthouse is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Merced County Courthouse?

The period of significance for Merced County Courthouse is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Merced County Courthouse?

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