130 Minnesota Avenue East
Glenwood, MN, USA

National Register of Historic Places - Pope County Courthouse

Statement of Significance:

The Pope County Courthouse is significant as the seat of Pope County government since 1930, and as a well-preserved example of the type of "replacement" courthouses constructed in a few Minnesota counties during the 1930's. Earlier, Pope County offices had been located in a log cabin in Gilchrist Township (1866, building now reconstructed on the grounds of the Pope County Museum), in a frame building in Glenwood (1866-1879), and in an Italianate courthouse building on the site of the present building (1879-1929). Designed by St.Cloud architect Nairne Fisher, the 1930 building's modest but distinctive detailing is enhanced by its prominent siting in downtown Glenwood, The decades surrounding construction marked the height of Pope County's population, and the building's outstanding integrity is due in part to the fact that it has not been necessary to construct additional facilities in the courthouse block. The County recently observed the 50th anniversary of the building s construction.