Share what you know,
and discover more.
Share what you know,
and discover more.
Dec 02, 1970
National Register of Historic Places - Winona County Courthouse
Statement of Significance: The Winona County Courthouse is significant and valuable to the surrounding communities as a noteworthy architectural achievement, a visual record of a prosperous period in the area's history and an example of outstanding local workmanship. Architects C.G. Maybury and Son designed the Romanesque building in 1888 at a cost of $100;000. Reflecting the best characteristics of traditional styling, the building's function was not obscured by its design. Great care was taken to plan offices, vaults and courtrooms for maximum efficiency. An extra floor left room for expansion when needed. Built during the romantic era of the riverboat, logging and sawmills, the structure represents the ambitious hopes and aspirations of the community during this period. Only blocks from the Julius Wilke Steamboat, a museum dedicated to this historic period, the courthouse once commanded an unobstructed view of the river and the prospering river businesses to which the town owed its livelihood. The attorneys and other officials who occupied this building were often well-known figures in this politically oriented state. In 1889, Winona could claim among its prominent citizens, attorney generals, state supreme court justices, a lieutenant governor, a United States marshal and two United States senators. Winona had a large interest in the governmental functions of Minnesota and this courthouse was a perceptible reflection of this interest in government. The fact that this building has lasted magnificently through 8l years of use, despite improper maintenance, attests to the skill of the craftsmen who worked on it. All the carpenters, stonemasons, iron workers and painters were local artisans. All the materials used were obtained from the surrounding area. The building was a product built of, for and by the area it serves These factors indicate the possibility of meaningful functional value for this courthouse, besides its obvious historical value. Serious consideration must be given to the reservation of such a site.
National Register of Historic Places - Winona County Courthouse
Statement of Significance: The Winona County Courthouse is significant and valuable to the surrounding communities as a noteworthy architectural achievement, a visual record of a prosperous period in the area's history and an example of outstanding local workmanship. Architects C.G. Maybury and Son designed the Romanesque building in 1888 at a cost of $100;000. Reflecting the best characteristics of traditional styling, the building's function was not obscured by its design. Great care was taken to plan offices, vaults and courtrooms for maximum efficiency. An extra floor left room for expansion when needed. Built during the romantic era of the riverboat, logging and sawmills, the structure represents the ambitious hopes and aspirations of the community during this period. Only blocks from the Julius Wilke Steamboat, a museum dedicated to this historic period, the courthouse once commanded an unobstructed view of the river and the prospering river businesses to which the town owed its livelihood. The attorneys and other officials who occupied this building were often well-known figures in this politically oriented state. In 1889, Winona could claim among its prominent citizens, attorney generals, state supreme court justices, a lieutenant governor, a United States marshal and two United States senators. Winona had a large interest in the governmental functions of Minnesota and this courthouse was a perceptible reflection of this interest in government. The fact that this building has lasted magnificently through 8l years of use, despite improper maintenance, attests to the skill of the craftsmen who worked on it. All the carpenters, stonemasons, iron workers and painters were local artisans. All the materials used were obtained from the surrounding area. The building was a product built of, for and by the area it serves These factors indicate the possibility of meaningful functional value for this courthouse, besides its obvious historical value. Serious consideration must be given to the reservation of such a site.
Dec 02, 1970
Posted Date
Aug 22, 2022
Historical Record Date
Dec 02, 1970
Source Name
National Register of Historic Places
