Texas Courthouses
There are 254 Texas counties, and many counties have more than one courthouse. Like other enthusiasts, I – with wife and dogs in tow – have set out to visit all of the historic Texas courthouses (yes, that’s a thing), and have dedicated this page to posting pictures and videos from our visits.
I have handled cases in many of these courthouses, but cannot choose a favorite. I love so many of them, but am partial to the designs of architects Alfred Giles and James Riely Gordon, both of whom were very active in and around San Antonio in the 1800s. I am also a fan of W.C. Dodson‘s designs, though his style varied significantly throughout his career.
I hope you enjoy experiencing the many architectural styles of these fantastic buildings. I will continue to add pictures to this page as we get the chance to experience “new” courthouses.
NOTES:
– All photos and videos on this page taken by Trey Wilson.
– This page is best viewed on on a desktop. The alignment and labels may be off when viewed from a mobile device.
– Click on the individual photos to enlarge. Some were taken with Canon cameras, and others with iPhones, so quality may vary.
– I make my living doing something other than taking pictures (practicing real estate law), so feel free to share or republish my photos if you are so inclined. I would appreciate photo attribution to @treywilsonattorneytx.
– I post some of the Courthouse photos I take on Instagram at @TreyWilsonAttorneyTx. Look for #texascourthouse and #countycourthouse to see additional pictures taken by me and other Texas courthouse enthusiasts. Sometimes I post short, cheesy courthouse videos to TikTok under my handle @treywilsonattorneytx.
– Learn about the Texas Historical Commission’s Courthouse Stewardship and Historic Courthouse Preservation Programs.
– A sampling of pictures from my visits to other courthouses, including the United States Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C., will also be posted on this page. I have labeled the non-Texas, replaced and abandoned courthouses as “BONUS.”
– If you are interested in historical Texas Courthouses, here are some great websites:
- 254 Texas Courthouses
- TexasCourthouses.com
- Texas Courthouse Trail
- Texas Escapes
- Texas Association of Counties
- Texas Historic Commission Restored Courthouses
- Architexas Historic Texas Courthouses Projects page
The Texas State Historical Association‘s Handbook of Texas is my GO-TO resource for research into the counties I visit.
DeWitt County Courthouse (Cuero)
Architect: A.O. Watson (Completed by Eugene Heiner). Year Built: 1897. The DeWitt County Courthouse is located in Cuero, Texas. It is a beautiful building. Unfortunately, it was under restorative construction on the day of my first visit. The THC Restoration has now...
Lavaca County Courthouse (Hallettsville)
Architect: Eugene T. Heiner. Year Built: 1899. The Lavaca County Courthouse is located in Halletsville, Texas. It is designed in the Romanesque Revival style. Heiner also designed the following Texas Courthouses: Col0rado County Dewitt County Jasper County Old...
Presidio County Courthouse (Marfa)
Architect: Alfred Giles Year Built: 1886 The Presidio County Courthouse is located in Marfa, Texas. It is a beautiful structure inside and out, and among my very favorite courthouses in Texas. Note the similarities between the lady justice in Presidio County and...
McClennan County Courthouse (Waco)
Architect: James Riely Gordon. Year Built: 1901 The McClennan County Courthouse is located in Waco, Texas. I have visited this structure multiple times, and it is one of my very favorite Texas courthouses.
Karnes County Courthouse (Karnes City)
Architect: John Cormack. Year Built: 1894. The Karnes County Courthouse is located in Karnes City, Texas. In 1854 Karnes County erected its first courthouse in the county seat of Helena, an important stage stop between San Antonio and Goliad. The original courthouse...
Victoria County Courthouse (Victoria)
Architect: J. Riely Gordon. Year Built: 1892. The Victoria County Courthouse is located in Victoria, Texas. Designed by the architectural firm of Gordon & Laub, this classic Texas courthouse was the result of the Victoria County Commissioner's Court decision to...
My Visit to the Sutton County Courthouse
My Texas Courthouse tour recently took me to Sonora. There, I visited the beautiful Sutton County courthouse. It was originally built in 1891 and recently beautifully restored. Hope you enjoy seeing these courthouses as much as I do. https://youtu.be/rchFVCJ-I3U...
McMullen County (Tilden)
Architect: William Charles Stephenson, Jr. Year Built: 1930. The McMullen County Courthouse is located in Tilden, Texas.
Brooks County (Falfurrias)
Architect: Alfred Giles. Year Built: 1914. The Brooks County Courthouse is located in Falfurrias, Texas.Created in 1911, Brooks County was named for State Legislator James A. Brooks (1855-1944), who served as the first county judge. Edward C. Lasater, founder of...
Dimmit County (Carrizo Springs)
Architect: J G Breeding & Sons. Year Built: 1884. The Dimmit County Courthouse is located in Carrizo Springs, Texas. Named for one of the framers of the Texas Declaration of Independence, Dimmit County was created from four other counties in 1858. The county was...
Uvalde County (Uvalde)
Architect: Henry T. Phelps. Year Built: 1927. The Uvalde County Courthouse is located in Uvalde, Texas. Completed in 1928, this structure replaced Uvalde County's 1890 courthouse. The Commissioner's Court hired architect Henry T. Phelps, who had designed several other...
Maverick County (Eagle Pass)
Architect: Wahrenberger & Beckman. Year Built: 1885. The Maverick County Courthouse is located in Eagle Pass, Texas. A landmark of the Texas-Mexico border area. Built 1884-85, during term of county Judge Thomas Lamb, on site chosen by citizens' committee, who...
Runnels County (Ballinger)
Architect: Eugene T. Heiner. Year Built: 1889. The Runnels County Courthouse is located in Ballinger, Texas. Constructed here, 1888-89, after hotly contested battle with Runnels City for county seat. (County had been organized 1880.) Structure stands on one of largest...
Comal County (New Braunfels)
Architect: James Riely Gordon. Year Built: 1898. The Comal County Courthouse is located in New Braunfels, Texas. I have handled countless cases in Comal County and have had the pleasure of practicing in this courthouse (and the "new" annex) throughout my career as a...
Guadalupe County (Seguin)
Architect: L.M. Wirtz. Year Built: 1935. The Guadalupe County Courthouse is located in Seguin, Texas. The current courthouse dates from 1935. The architects were L.M. Wirtz & Harold Calhoun. (They also designed the Burnet County courthouse.) The style is...
McCulloch County (Brady)
Year Built: 1899. Architect: Marton & Moodie. The McCulloch County Courthouse is located in the Texas Hill Country town of Brady. Brady's nickname is the "Heart of Texas" due to its location near the geographic center of Texas. Many are enamored with this...
Concho County (Paint Rock)
Architect: Oscar Ruffini & F.E. Ruffini. Year Built: 1886. The Concho County Courthouse is located in Paint Rock, Texas. First permanent courthouse for Concho County. Built in 1886, replacing crude early structure. Architects were the brothers F.E. and Oscar...
Mason County (Mason)
Year Built: 1909. Architect: Edward Columbus Hosford. The Mason County Courthouse is located in the Texas Hill Country town of Mason. Mason is nicknamed the "Gem of the Hill Country." From the Historic Marker about the Mason County Courthouse: Constructed in 1909,...
El Paso County (El Paso)
Architect: Garland & Hilles/Fischer Cordova Partners. Year Built: 1991. The El Paso County Courthouse is located in El Paso, Texas. The current courthouse occupies the same city block as the historic 1917/1955 buildings. It began with a large, glass walled office...
Culberson County (Van Horn)
Architect: Pierce, Norris, Pace & Associates. Year Built: 1964. The Culberson County Courthouse is located in the West Texas town of Van Horn. The county was created in 1911 and Van Horn was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was the Clark Hotel on...
Dawson County (Lamesa)
Architect: Sanguinet and Staats. Year Built: 1916. The Dawson County Courthouse is locater in Lamesa, Texas. The county was created in 1876 and attached to Howard County for judicial purposes. Lamesa was selected as the county seat in 1905 when the county was...
Tom Green County (San Angelo)
Architect: Anton F. Korn. Year Built: 1928. The Tom Green County Courthouse is located in San Angelo, Texas.The courthouse plans originated with W.W. Larmour (of San Antonio) but were used without permission by the contractor J. H. Walker for the Tom Green County...
Gillespie County (Fredericksburg)
Year Built: 1939. Architect: Edward Stein. The Gillespie County Courthouse is located in Fredericksburg, Texas, about 65 miles northwest of San Antonio. I have handled numerous cases in Gillespie County, and currently have an active docket there. I am also regular...
Terry County(Brownfield)
Architect: Peters and Haynes. Year Built: 1925. The Terry County Courthouse is located in Brownfield, Texas.
Coke County (Robert Lee)
Architect: Wyatt C. Hedrick and Harry Weaver. Year Built: 1956. The Coke County Courthouse is located in Robert Lee, Texas. The county was created in 1889 and Hayrick was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a two story log structure built in Hayrick...