National Register of Historic Places

Wright County Courthouse

Clarion, Wright County, Iowa
Listed
July 1, 1981
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
81000277

About this property

The Wright County Courthouse in Clarion, Iowa, United States was built in 1892. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 as a part of the County Courthouses in Iowa Thematic Resource. The courthouse was the fourth building the county has used for court functions and county administration. Wright County used a log cabin for its initial court sessions in 1855. A two-story frame building was the first proper courthouse the county used when the county seat was moved to Liberty. The county seat moved to Clarion in 1866 and another courthouse was constructed there. That building became a part of the Avondale Hotel after the present courthouse was built in 1892. The present courthouse is a three-story building that was completed for $50,000 in 1892. It was designed by W.R. Parsons & Son, and built by E.D. Jones & Company. The building was extensively renovated in 1974. The building exhibits several features that are unique among courthouses in Iowa. The Wright County Courthouse has a large polygonal projection at the rear of the building. Its front entrance is recessed within a single-story projecting pavilion, which features a stone roof, balustrade and a semicircular bay on one side. There are similar semicircular bays that flank the site entrance. The courthouse also has a clock tower that rises above the building's multi-gabled roof. The significance of the courthouse is derived from its association with county government, and the political power and prestige of Clarion as the county seat.

Location

Clarion, Wright County, Iowa
42.73216, -93.73216

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

Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railroad Passenger Station
Industrial
0.2 mi
Cornelia Lake Bridge
Industrial
4.6 mi
Goldfield Bridge
Industrial
9.8 mi
Eagle Grove Public Library
Industrial
10 mi
Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Passenger Depot-Dows
Industrial
12.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Wright County Courthouse listed on the National Register?

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

What type of historic resource is Wright County Courthouse?

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

What is the period of significance for Wright County Courthouse?

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

Can I research the history near Wright County Courthouse?

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