Red Lake Falls in Red Lake County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Red Lake County Courthouse

National Register of Historic Places

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 29, 2022

1. Red Lake County Courthouse Marker

Inscription. This court house has been placed on the
National Register of Historic Places
by the United States Department of the Interior
May of 1983

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.

Location. 47° 53.09′ N, 96° 16.447′ W. Marker is in Red Lake Falls, Minnesota, in Red Lake County. It can be reached from Main Avenue North (State Highway 32) just north of Hill Street Northeast, on the left when traveling north. Marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, on the left/south side of the east entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 124 Main Avenue North, Red Lake Falls MN 56750, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Minnesota’s Northland. It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

on the prairies,

on the Great Plains,

and specifically on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

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the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Pierre Bottineau (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Red Lake Falls Community Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away).

Regarding Red Lake County Courthouse. National Register of Historic Places № 83000941.

From the National Register Nomination prepared by Dennis Gimmestad, 2/16/1983:
The Beaux Arts style structure features a patterned brick treatment with buff-colored stone trim. A central entrance pavilion and four corner pavilions project lightly from the main mass of the building. Each of the four corner pavilions is surmounted by a drum and, at the corners, by a spherical finial. At the center of the hipped roof is a flat, balustraded platform from which the central dome of the building has been removed. The roof line features semi-circular dormer windows between each of the corner drums. A dentillated cornice encircles the
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 29, 2022

2. Red Lake County Courthouse Marker
The marker is mounted on left side of the east/front entrance.
building. Detailing on the front entrance pavilion includes a full pediment, paired pilasters, a large arched window, and an arched entranceway flanked by two round ornamental brick patterns. Fenestration consists of symmetrically placed double hung windows, with those on the main level featuring arched transoms. The windows, corner pavilions, and ground level are accentuated through, a darker colored brick. The interior of the building features a central rotunda.
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
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 29, 2022

3. Red Lake County Courthouse (southwest elevation)
Lake Falls Courthouse building, of course, was an important factor in the sequence of events related to the county seat controversy.

Also see . . . Red Lake County Courthouse.

The Red Lake County Courthouse is a red brick Beaux Arts building featuring a small dome at each corner. Originally the building also had a large central dome, but it was removed in the 1940s. The courthouse was completed in 1911 at a cost of $37,070. The building was designed by Fremont D. Orff and James Brady. The front entrance of the courthouse is flanked by faux columns, topped by a classic pediment. The interior atrium is open to a two-story rotunda with arched openings to the second-level walkway.

(Submitted on September 17, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Red Lake County Courthouse (<i>northwest elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 29, 2022

4. Red Lake County Courthouse (northwest elevation)

Red Lake County Courthouse (<i>north elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 29, 2022

5. Red Lake County Courthouse (north elevation)

Red Lake County Courthouse (<i>east/front elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 29, 2022

6. Red Lake County Courthouse (east/front elevation)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 16, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,125 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 17, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.