The Harris County Courthouse is a courthouse located in downtown Houston. It is regarded as one of Texas’ most valuable historic courthouses. It houses the 1st and 14th Texas Courts of Appeals. The building is an excellent example of civil architecture and a timeless representation of the dynamic growth of Harris County in the early twentieth century. Find out more at houston1.one.
Unsuccessful construction efforts
In 1836, Texas gained independence from Mexico. Then, brothers Augustus Chapman and John Kirby Allen, prominent real estate promoters from New York, arrived here. They purchased land on the banks of the Buffalo Bayou River in Houston and set out to find the ideal location for a trade center and a government building.
A year later, the Allens gave the Houston City Planning Commission a block for the construction of the courthouse. In addition, the brothers made a demand: the area was to serve as the heart of the Harris County administration. Even though all of the necessary documents were not ready, officials began construction on the wooden courthouse right away, particularly in January 1838. The building was finished in three months. There was also a wooden prison nearby, inside which there were two premises.
After 6 years, the condition of the courthouse declined, therefore it was replaced by a two-story brick building with a dome, which was finished in 1851. During the construction, the commissioners were forced to rent meeting rooms in city hotels and a brick-and-mortar store. Furthermore, before the erection of a new prison on the northeast corner of Preston Ave and Austin St. in 1856, the county rented premises for prisoners. The two-story brick courthouse with four entrances and a dome was erected for $15,000. The prison had six cells. However, almost 9 years later, the courthouse was declared unusable again.
The new courthouse was designed in the Greek Revival style and was built in front of the 1851 brick building. Construction began in 1860, but the American Civil War of 1861-1865 halted the project. The district converted the structure first into a cartridge factory and later into a building for officers and security guards. The place was also used to store iron cannonballs. The basement was converted into a guardhouse for allied prisoners of war. At the end of the war, the upper floors were transformed into a hospital. In 1881, the unfinished structure was demolished due to neglect and storm damage. However, the brick used for the construction of the courthouse in 1851 was given a second chance: it was utilized to construct a Catholic Church.
Not afraid of challenges, the residents of the district began the construction of the fourth courthouse. The four-story Victorian Gothic building was designed by architect Edward J. Duhamel. By the time the building was finished in 1884, it was considered outdated and did not meet the necessary requirements, particularly due to its fire hazard. In October 1896, the county constructed a new prison on Capitol Avenue. By 1908, when the courthouse was demolished, County officials had finally decided exactly what they wanted to build – a grand and functional structure.
The court’s fifth and final structure was a six-story neoclassical building erected in 1910 out of processed pink Texas granite, pressed brick, terracotta and limestone. This beautiful architectural marvel was designed by Lang & Witchell. The hallmark of Harris County Courthouse is a round dome with Corinthian columns. Cast-stone Eagles encircle the base. The basement and the massive entrance staircase are lined with rough-finished pink Texas granite, while the above levels are brick with terracotta accents on the cornice, railings and window sills.
Destructive restoration
The structure remained intact until the 1950s when an unsuccessful upgrade occurred. Some historical elements were damaged during the significant renovation. In particular, some monumental entrance staircases were dismantled, external and internal windows were replaced, terracotta elements on the facade were removed, the central rotunda was closed, decorative cast-iron stairs were fenced off and the courtroom was changed. Substantial damage was inflicted on the scenery and marble embellishments. Since then, several attempts have been made to restore these pieces and recreate the court’s former appearance.
At the beginning of the twenty-first century, Harris County Courthouse was reconstructed. For example, they restored the rotunda and the original mosaic floors (all of which were changed or damaged during the 1950 reconstruction). All terracotta balustrades, brick and stone supports were also repaired. All exterior windows were reconstructed from mahogany and lined with long-leaved pine inside to ensure the assembly’s strength.
Other exterior work included installing a copper tip on top of the lantern and replacing a stone retaining wall at the base of the site’s perimeter.
The reconstruction of the art glass dome was an extensive effort. This required extra work since the architects had no historical evidence or photographs of the original steel structure. They visited two other Texas courthouses designed by the same architects around the same time. Both had art glass domes but in two different styles: Art Nouveau and Prairie. They decided on an art glass dome in the prairie style for the Harris County Courthouse. The reconstruction helped restore the state and national monument to its original appearance.
Interesting facts
- Cooke County Courthouse was designed by the same team as Harris County Courthouse. As a result, the buildings are alike, the only noticeable difference is their size.
Cooke County Courthouse
- The floor of the Harris County Courthouse features original mosaic tiles. It was covered with vinyl during the renovation in 1950, but it was later removed, restoring its original appearance.
- In 1987, the well-known case of the oil and gas firm Texaco vs. the motor oil brand Pennzoil took place here. According to the court’s verdict, Texaco was ordered to reimburse as much as 10.35 billion dollars. Texaco deceived a third party into breaching the contract for the sale of Pennzoil shares.
- The courthouse features a large vine-covered stone. This is the original 1883 cornerstone.
Other significant structures in the area
Shortly after a new Criminal Court building was constructed east of the Harris County Courthouse in 1952, the 1910 structure was renovated for use as the Harris County Civil Courthouse. Since then, the district has constructed several buildings in the adjacent city blocks to distribute the functions originally performed by the 1910 building.
As the needs of Harris County are constantly growing, this also leads to the expansion of new buildings. In 1969, the Family Law Center was established to the north of the courthouse. In 1979, the district administration building was constructed here, allowing for more space for administrative work that can be performed outside the courthouse.
There are two more important buildings: the Civil Courthouse and the Criminal Justice Center. These additional courthouses contribute to the county’s civilian needs. In 2011, the Jury Assembly Center was built across the street from Harris County Courthouse. The above-ground entrance of this center leads to underground meeting rooms. The rooms are linked to a tunnel system that connects all of the area’s courthouses.