National Register of Historic Places

Old Harrison County Courthouse

Magnolia, Harrison County, Iowa
Listed
February 24, 1983
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
83000365

About this property

The Old Harrison County Courthouse, located in Magnolia, Iowa, United States, was built in 1873. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 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. Magnolia was chosen as Harrison County's first county seat. A log cabin served as the first courthouse. It was destroyed in a fire along with the county records. A second courthouse was built in 1854. The county raised the funds for its construction by selling town lots. The building was condemned as unsafe in 1873, and the county's third courthouse was built the same year. It served the county for three years until Logan was named the county seat in 1876. After its use as a courthouse it was used as a Methodist Episcopal church until at least 1938. Its significance is derived from being one of the few former courthouses extant in the state, and its association with county government and the political power and prestige of Magnolia as the county seat. It is also representative of the many county seat battles that Iowa counties engaged in. The generally rectangular structure is faced with brick laid in a common bond. A small porch extends from the center of the main facade. It features projecting pilasters that frame a doorway that has been narrowed. The window sills are stone. The building is capped with a hip roof. Harrison County Courthouse (Logan, Iowa), also NRHP-listed

Location

401 Locust
Magnolia, Harrison County, Iowa
41.69404, -95.87197

Categories

POLITICS/GOVERNMENTARCHITECTURE
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

Harrison County Courthouse
Industrial
5.5 mi
State Savings Bank
Industrial
5.6 mi
Hughes-Irons Motor Company
Industrial
8.7 mi
Modale School and Masonic Hall
Industrial
8.9 mi
Woodbine Normal and Grade School
Industrial
9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Old Harrison County Courthouse listed on the National Register?

Old Harrison County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 24, 1983.

What type of historic resource is Old Harrison County Courthouse?

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

What is the period of significance for Old Harrison County Courthouse?

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

Can I research the history near Old Harrison County Courthouse?

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