National Register of Historic Places

Mahaska County Courthouse

Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa
Listed
July 1, 1981
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
81000255

About this property

The Mahaska County Courthouse in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States, was built in 1886. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 as a part of the County Courthouses in Iowa Thematic Resource. In 1986 it was included as a contributing property in the Oskaloosa City Square Commercial Historic District. The courthouse is the second building the county has used for court functions and county administration. Mahaska County's first courthouse was built during the winter of 1844–1845. It was a two-story frame structure that measured 28 by 50 feet (8.5 by 15.2 m). It also served as a church and opera house. The county discontinued using the building in 1855 and rented office space in town to carry out the various county functions. It was rented out by the county until it was sold in 1867 for $3,800. The old courthouse was moved to a different location, and a bank was built on the old location. Concern over county records led to plans to build a new courthouse, but the county failed to pass a bond referendum and continued to rent office space. The present courthouse was built in the Romanesque Revival style on part of the Oskaloosa public park. It was built for $132,000 and was dedicated in 1886. It was designed by the Milwaukee architectural firm of H.C. Koch & Company, and built by the O.J. King Company. The courthouse is a 3½-story red brick and stone structure. It is built on a rusticated stone foundation. The main facade has a large stone arch that surrounds the first story entrance. The central tower has a square clock tower with spires at the top. It was altered in 1934 and it now has an Art Deco effect, giving the building a rather odd appearance. It was originally taller with a pyramid-shaped roof. Stone beltcourses run along the building at the lintel and impost level. The roofline has gabled wall dormers with arched windows. The grounds feature a statue of Chief Mahaska, for whom the county is named. Media related to Mahaska County Courthouse at Wikimedia Commons

Location

Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa
41.29505, -92.64320

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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Nearby Historic Sites

Oskaloosa City Park and Band Stand
Listed
0 mi
St. James Episcopal Church
Industrial
0.1 mi
Oskaloosa Fire Station
Industrial
0.1 mi
Oskaloosa City Hall
Industrial
0.1 mi
Oskaloosa Post Office
Industrial
0.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Mahaska County Courthouse listed on the National Register?

Mahaska County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 1, 1981.

What type of historic resource is Mahaska County Courthouse?

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

What is the period of significance for Mahaska County Courthouse?

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

Can I research the history near Mahaska County Courthouse?

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