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Summary
Douglas County Courthouse
1313 Belknap Street, Superior, Douglas County
Architect: Royer and Radcliffe
Dates of Construction: 1918-1919
When Douglas County was created out of LaPointe County in 1854, legislation specified the precise site of the county seat. However, when this location became so cramped that many county employees had to rent offices in the city's business district, state legislators allowed a referendum in 1916 to determine if the county seat could be relocated to a new site. Citizens voted overwhelmingly for the new site and Superior architect E.S. Radcliffe and J.M. Royer of Urbana, Illinois immediately started working on a building placed on an entire block in the center of the City of Superior.
The three-story building, hailed the "finest Courthouse in the Northwest" in 1918, is an immense Neoclassical structure. The exterior, constructed with Bedford limestone, contain an Ionic colonnade and a parapet featuring griffins and shields. The elaborate interior, faced with Italian Pavanazza marble, features 600 pound chandeliers, bronze clocks that line the corridors, balconies on upper levels, and leaded glass skylights ornamented with stained glass.
The Courthouse is open during normal business hours.
Property Details
| Criteria | Architecture/Engineering |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Architecture |
| Period of Significance | 1900-1924 |
| Architectural Style | Classical Revival,Other |
| Architect | Royer & Radcliff |
| Resource Type | Building |
| Historic Use | Courthouse |
Resources Within The Property
| Contributing Buildings | 1 |
|---|---|
| Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Contributing Objects | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Buildings | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Objects | 0 |
Designations
| Historic Status | Listed in the National Register |
|---|---|
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Mar 9, 1982 |
| Historic Status | Listed in the State Register |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Jan 1, 1989 |
State & National Registers of Historic Places
The State Register and National Register recognize buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects that are significant in national, state, or local history. The State Historic Preservation Office in conjunction with the National Park Service maintains the list for Wisconsin and makes the data available to the public for research and education.
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400 Market Street
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