About this property
The Fort Bend County Courthouse is a historic courthouse located in Richmond, Texas, United States. It was built in 1908 by Charles Henry Page, who also designed several other Texas courthouses. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in 1980 and designated a Texas State Antiquities Landmark in 1992. Since its establishment in 1837, Fort Bend County has had five courthouses, the first four of which have since been demolished. Fort Bend County commissioned Charles Henry Page in late 1907 to design the building. The Texas Building Company handled construction for a total cost of $75,000. The new county courthouse was dedicated on January 19, 1909. Page oversaw a first expansion of the courthouse in 1935. A second addition was added in 1957. 1981 renovations were carried out by Ray Bailey Architects and restored or reconstructed many original features of the building, including the courtroom's internal balcony, which had been destroyed during the 1935 works. In 2012, the need arose for further renovations, which aimed to restore the courthouse back to its original form; much of the original construction had been hidden under later works. The county raised $5.8 million total for renovations, mostly in private donors and grants. Fort Bend County itself allocated $2.4 million; other major donations included $2 million from the George Foundation and $271,000 from the Texas Historical Commission. Phoenix I Restoration and Construction and Bailey Architects spearheaded the renovation works, including removing the 1957 addition and restoring Page's expansion. At this time, an elevator and a fire sprinkler system were also installed, and the restrooms, HVAC system, and other infrastructure were renovated. Works began in January 2013, and the courthouse was re-dedicated on January 9, 2014. The Fort Bend County Courthouse is a three-story-tall structure with a cruciform footprint. Page favored the Neoclassical style for his buildings, which was popular for Texas public buildings constructed in the early 20th century. Other contemporary examples built by Page in this style include the Anderson, Hays, and Williamson County courthouses. The roof is capped by a large copper dome and is a significant contributor to Richmond's skyline. Atop this dome is a cupola, atop which in turn stands a copper statue of Lady Justice, who holds her signature scales of justice and a sword. Four clocks, one in each cardinal direction, are set in front of each side of the cupola. Four smaller domes topped with spires sit on top of each corner of the building, supported by rounded pediments. The entirety of the roof is decorated with heavy copper eaves, fascia, and cornices, especially underneath each side dome.
Location
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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.
Everything a full report reveals about Fort Bend County Courthouse
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Questions about this property
When was Fort Bend County Courthouse listed on the National Register?
Fort Bend County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 13, 1980.
What type of historic resource is Fort Bend County Courthouse?
Fort Bend County Courthouse is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Fort Bend County Courthouse?
The period of significance for Fort Bend County Courthouse is recorded as the civil_war era, specifically around 1908.
Can I research the history near Fort Bend 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 Fort Bend County Courthouse will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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Historic places, battles, and census history across Fort Bend County.
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