Wilkesboro in Wilkes County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Old Wilkes County Courthouse

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 29, 2022

1. Old Wilkes County Courthouse Marker

Inscription. Constructed in 1902, the original Wilkes County Courthouse is now the Wilkes Heritage Museum, home of the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame. This beaux-arts, neo-classical revival building was designed at the turn of the 20th century by the architectural firm Wheeler and Range of Charlotte. Wheeler crowned the building with a second-empire cupola that was especially popular in western North Carolina municipal buildings at the time. After numerous renovations and additions, the building was painted white to give it a more unified appearance in the 1950s. As the building only housed one courtroom, the county eventually outgrew the space and erected a new courthouse with multiple courtrooms south of this location. In great disrepair, the structure was completely restored in the early 2000s. Home to the Wilkes Heritage Museum, the building serves as a resource center for Wilkes County citizens and visitors. In its 20,000 square feet of exhibit space, the museum collects and preserves historic artifacts and documents and interprets the history of Wilkes County and western North Carolina through exhibits, educational programs, performances,

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[Captions/timeline] c. 1902-1950 • 1940 Flood • c. 1950s • 1978 Time Capsule Buried • c. 2000s

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Law Enforcement. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and the Time Capsules series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1902.

Location. 36° 8.908′ N, 81° 9.102′ W. Marker is in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in Wilkes County. It is at the intersection of East Main Street (State Road 18/268) and North Bridge Street, on the right when traveling west on East Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 E Main St, Wilkesboro NC 28697, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 29, 2022

2. Old Wilkes County Courthouse Marker

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Stoneman's Raid (here, next to this marker); Wilkes County Time Capsule (here, next to this marker); Wilkes County War Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Former Wilkes County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Hubbard's (within shouting distance of this marker); Benbow & Tomlinson Store (within shouting distance of this marker); Daniel Boone's Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Smithey Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilkesboro.

Also see . . . Wilkes County Courthouse (PDF). National Register of Historic Places nomination for the courthouse, which was listed in 1979. (National Archives) (Submitted on November 15, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Old Wilkes County Courthouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 29, 2022

3. Old Wilkes County Courthouse

Credits. This page was last revised on August 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 15, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 621 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 15, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.