The Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse, commonly known as the Old Courthouse, is one of Evansville’s most recognizable historic landmarks. Located at 201 NW Fourth Street in Downtown Evansville, the massive limestone courthouse occupies an entire city block bounded by Fourth, Fifth, Vine and Court streets.
Construction began in the late 1880s, and the courthouse was completed in 1890, with Vanderburgh County government offices moving into the building in early 1891. It served as the center of Vanderburgh County government until the late 1960s.
Architecture
The courthouse was designed by Henry Wolters, a Louisville architect who had studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. The elaborate building is considered one of Indiana’s outstanding examples of late-19th-century governmental architecture.
Constructed primarily of Indiana limestone, the courthouse features extensive stone carvings, sculptures, marble floors, slate stairways and ornamental iron and brass work.
Fourteen major exterior statues were carved by Chicago sculptor Franz Engelsmann. The figures represent themes including Law, Justice, the Arts and Fields of Endeavor, while other carvings depict local plants, fruits, flowers and symbols of Indiana and the United States.
Rising above the building is its distinctive 216-foot bell tower, which has made the courthouse a prominent feature of the Downtown Evansville skyline for more than a century.
An Earlier Evansville Landmark
The location itself has an important history predating the courthouse.
During the 19th century, the block formed part of a turnaround basin for the Wabash and Erie Canal. Canal boats carrying goods into Evansville could enter the basin, unload cargo and turn around before beginning their return journey north.
After railroad transportation contributed to the decline of the canal, the basin was filled around 1860. Decades later, the courthouse was constructed on the site.
Courthouse and Jail
Across Vine Street stands the Old Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Residence and Jail, which was constructed around the same time as the courthouse.
The two buildings were connected by an underground tunnel beneath Vine Street, allowing prisoners to be transported securely between the jail and courthouse.
Together, the courthouse and jail remain one of Evansville’s most impressive collections of surviving 19th-century civic architecture.
Historic Events
For decades, the courthouse served not only as the center of county government but also as one of Evansville’s most important public gathering places.
During the devastating Great Flood of 1937, the courthouse served as a military headquarters after martial law was declared in the city.
The courthouse steps also became a political stage. President Harry S. Truman stopped at the courthouse during his famous 1948 presidential campaign, and John F. Kennedy spoke from the courthouse steps while campaigning for president in 1960.
Preservation
County government eventually outgrew the historic building and moved to the new Civic Center complex in the late 1960s.
Rather than demolishing the old courthouse, local preservation efforts helped save the structure. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
The courthouse has since been adapted for offices, community functions and special events while retaining much of its historic architecture.
The Old Courthouse Today
Today, the Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse remains one of Downtown Evansville’s defining landmarks.
The building is used for offices, weddings, receptions and other community events, and visitors can still experience many of its original architectural details.
More than 130 years after its completion, the Old Courthouse’s towering silhouette, elaborate limestone sculptures and connection to Evansville’s political and transportation history make it one of the most historically and architecturally significant buildings in the city.
Quick Facts
Official name: Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse
Common name: Old Courthouse
Address: 201 NW Fourth Street
Completed: 1890
Opened for county government: 1891
Architect: Henry Wolters
Primary material: Indiana limestone
Bell tower height: 216 feet
Original purpose: Vanderburgh County Courthouse
National Register of Historic Places: 1970
Notable visitors: Harry S. Truman and John F. Kennedy
Historic site use: Wabash and Erie Canal turnaround basin