National Register of Historic Places

Whitley County Courthouse

Columbia City, Whitley County, Indiana
Listed
February 16, 1979
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
79000029

About this property

The Whitley County Courthouse is an historic courthouse building located at Van Buren and Main Streets in Columbia City, Indiana, the seat of Whitley County. It was constructed in 1888, and is a three-story, cruciform plan, French Renaissance style Indiana limestone building designed by Brentwood S. Tolan. It has a slate roof and galvanized iron central dome. The courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 16, 1979. A variety of prominent art works stand out on the Courthouse. Heads in Relief is a collection of limestone animal and figurative heads that are carved in a relief above the courthouse doors. Sculpted by Giere, the center features the image of a woman, possibly Liberty (22 x 16 x 18) wearing an elaborate headdress. To her proper right is a goose-like bird with its beak open and to the proper left is a wolf-like animal also with an open mouth. These pieces were examined as part of the Smithsonian's Save Outdoor Sculpture! survey in 1993 and their condition was described as "undetermined."

Location

Columbia City, Whitley County, Indiana
41.15638, -85.48906

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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Whitley County Courthouse

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

Nearby Historic Sites

Marshall, Thomas R., House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Columbia City Historic District
Listed
0.2 mi
Blue Bell Inc., Factory Building
Industrial
0.3 mi
Souder, Dr. Christopher, House
Civil War
7.4 mi
Pierceton Historic District
Listed
11.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Whitley County Courthouse listed on the National Register?

Whitley County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 16, 1979.

What type of historic resource is Whitley County Courthouse?

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

What is the period of significance for Whitley County Courthouse?

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

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

More in Whitley County

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

Explore WhitleyCounty ›

More historic places in Indiana

Browse all historic places in Indiana.

View Indianahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Indiana history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Indianahistory ›

Research the history near this site

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

Research your locationView a free sample report