1767 Chowan County Courthouse

1767 Chowan County Courthouse. . , The Chowan County Courthouse was erected in 1767, replacing an earlier wooden structure as the seat of government. The structure is considered the finest Georgian-style courthouse in the United States and features a Flemish bond brick exterior, whitewashed plaster walls, an English ballast stone floor, and an elliptical apse. The lower floor features a large courtroom flanked by offices, and the second floor consists of a large chamber or ballroom., The courthouse is the oldest public building in North Carolina. It is one of only five colonial courthouses in existence and the only one still in use. The North Carolina Supreme Court and the local superior court, as well as other government agencies, conduct business here. The courthouse has been restored to its colonial appearance and is maintained as a museum by Historic Edenton State Historic Site. , A Brief History of the Chowan County Courthouse, 1712 , North Carolina Colonial Assembly establishes a town on 100 acres at the fork of Queen Anne's Creek, with land dedicated for a courthouse., 1716 , Wood frame courthouse is constructed at the north end of the Courthouse Green. , 1767 , Current courthouse is constructed as the result of an act sponsored by Joseph Hewes, later a signer of the Declaration of Independence., 1971 , Courthouse is designated as a National Historic Landmark. , 2001 , Foundation of 1724 Governor's Council Chamber is discovered under the courthouse. , 2004 , Courthouse restoration is completed., This self-guided museum trail is numbered for convenience. However participants can begin or end where desired., The Museum Trail is a product of the Edenton Historical Commission. Special Thanks to Kip Shaw Photography, William Ahearn Arts, and the North Carolina Division of State Historic Sites