National Register of Historic Places

Poweshiek County Courthouse

Montezuma, Poweshiek County, Iowa
Listed
July 1, 1981
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
81000266

About this property

The Poweshiek County Courthouse in Montezuma, Iowa, United States, was built in 1859. 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 2012 it was listed as a contributing property in the Montezuma Downtown Historic District. The courthouse is the second building the county has used for court functions and county administration. Poweshiek County's first courthouse was a two-story frame building constructed on the northeast corner of the town square in 1850. It served the community as a school, church, and meeting place as well as a courthouse. The courtroom was on the first floor and the county offices were located on the second floor. In time the building was remodeled as a house. The present building was built for $1,928.15 in 1856. Drake & Dryden designed and built the Greek Revival structure, which is one of the oldest courthouses and one of few that are left in this architectural style in Iowa. An addition was made to the building in 1890 and major repair work was completed in 1933. Another addition on the south side of the building was completed in 1982. The courthouse is a two-story structure composed of dark red brick. A large square brick tower on the main facade rises to a white octagonal bell tower with a white dome. The arched main entrance is located at the base of the tower. The building also features pedimented gable ends, a wide triglyph frieze, and pilasters whose caps crowd the tops of the second-story windows. The raised basement is composed of coarse stone. The significance of the courthouse is derived from its association with county government, and the political power and prestige of Montezuma as the county seat.

Location

Montezuma, Poweshiek County, Iowa
41.58504, -92.52419

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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Poweshiek County Courthouse

This page lists Poweshiek County Courthouse. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Poweshiek County Courthouse report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Montezuma Downtown Historic District
Industrial
0.1 mi
New Carroll House Hotel
Industrial
0.1 mi
Des Moines Fire Department Headquarters-Fire Station No. 1 and Shop Building
Industrial
7.9 mi
North Skunk River Bridge
Industrial
8.4 mi
Raymond, P. P., House
Industrial
8.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Poweshiek County Courthouse listed on the National Register?

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

What type of historic resource is Poweshiek County Courthouse?

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

What is the period of significance for Poweshiek County Courthouse?

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

Can I research the history near Poweshiek County Courthouse?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Poweshiek County Courthouse will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Poweshiek County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Poweshiek County.

Explore PoweshiekCounty ›

More historic places in Iowa

Browse all historic places in Iowa.

View Iowahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Iowa history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Iowahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Poweshiek County Courthouse will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report