National Register of Historic Places

Owyhee County Courthouse

Murphy, Owyhee County, Idaho
Listed
November 17, 1982
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
82000357

About this property

The Owyhee County Courthouse in Murphy, Idaho, is a 1-story Art Deco building designed by Tourtellotte & Hummel and constructed in 1936. The brick building features a prominent entry with fluted pilasters on either side of a square arch, with foliated sunburst panels that frame an entablature of floral, triangular, and wavelet designs. A panel above the entry reads, "Owyhee County Courthouse." The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Owyhee County was organized in Idaho Territory in 1863, and the county seat was first at Ruby City (1863-1867), then at Silver City (1867-1934), and in 1934 voters moved the county seat to Murphy. The Idaho State Legislature ratified the move in 1999, officially changing the Idaho Code to reflect the relocation from Silver City to Murphy. In 1936 the county built a new courthouse on what was then a section of State Highway 45, now State Highway 78, at Murphy. A dancehall had been the temporary courthouse, and it burned in 1939. The Owyhee County Courthouse was renovated and expanded in 1973, with 1-story brick additions at either end of the original structure. The only parking meter in Owyhee County was installed at the courthouse in the early 1950s. National Register of Historic Places listings in Owyhee County, Idaho Media related to Owyhee County Courthouse at Wikimedia Commons

Location

Murphy, Owyhee County, Idaho
43.21692, -116.55127

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 Owyhee County Courthouse

This page lists Owyhee 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 Owyhee County Courthouse report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Swan Falls Dam and Power Plant
Industrial
8.8 mi
Noble Horse Barn
Industrial
10.2 mi
Melba I.O.OF. Lodge Hall
Industrial
11 mi
Bernard's Ferry
Civil War
12.9 mi
Silver City Historic District
Listed
15.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Owyhee County Courthouse listed on the National Register?

Owyhee County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 17, 1982.

What type of historic resource is Owyhee County Courthouse?

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

What is the period of significance for Owyhee County Courthouse?

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

Can I research the history near Owyhee 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 Owyhee County Courthouse will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Owyhee County

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

Explore OwyheeCounty ›

More historic places in Idaho

Browse all historic places in Idaho.

View Idahohistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Idaho history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Idahohistory ›

Research the history near this site

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

Research your locationView a free sample report