124 Langevin Avenue Northwest
Red Lake Falls, MN, USA

National Register of Historic Places - Red Lake County Courthouse

Statement of Significance:

The Red Lake County Courthouse is significant for its central role in the affairs of Red Lake County since its construction in 1910 and, locally, for its distinctive styling and siting. Red Lake County as established in 1896 included the area which today comprises the neighboring county of Pennington. The county seat was established at Red Lake Falls, but an early rivalry developed between that city and Thief River Falls. Although Red Lake Falls Interests succeeded in having the Beaux Arts style courthouse constructed in 1910, the same year saw over half the area of the county severed to create Pennington County with its county seat designated at Thief River Falls. The Red Lake Falls Courthouse building, of course, was an important factor in the sequence of events related to the county seat controversy. The hilltop location of the courthouse and its good integrity (despite the removal of the dome) make it the most imposing building in the community.