Jefferson County Courthouse
Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky
Marker Inscription
Jefferson County Courthouse. Designed by Gideon Shryock in the Greek Revival style. Construction began ca. 1837, and building first used by city and county, 1842. Completed in 1860 by Albert Fink and Charles Stancliff, it housed legislature briefly during Civil War. Structure renovated by Brinton Davis after 1905 fire. Seven U.S. Presidents have spoken here. On National Register of Historic Places, 1972. (Reverse) City and County Named - Louisville, at the Falls of the Ohio, was founded in 1778 by George Rogers Clark. Site first served as a military outpost; the city which developed was named for Louis XVI. Kentucky Co., Virginia, was divided in 1780 into Jefferson, Fayette, and Lincoln counties. Jefferson County was named for Governor Thomas Jefferson, who signed the first town charter of Louisville. Over.
Erected by Kentucky Historical Society
The Story
Begun around 1837 to designs by Gideon Shryock, this Greek Revival landmark stands at Louisville, the city George Rogers Clark founded in 1778 at the Falls of the Ohio and named for Louis XVI. Completed in 1860, it even sheltered Kentucky's legislature briefly during the Civil War. Over the years seven U.S. presidents have spoken within its walls.
Why it matters
A monumental temple of civic government, the courthouse anchors the story of how Kentucky's frontier settlements matured into a self-governing commonwealth.
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Related people
- · Gideon Shryock
- · George Rogers Clark
- · Thomas Jefferson
- · Albert Fink
Themes & tags
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