Blue Earth County Courthouse

Blue Earth County Courthouse. . , This land was first designated for a courthouse in 1854, just one year after the Territory of Minnesota created Blue Earth County. In 1856, Blue Earth County built the first county building, a log jail and frame single-story house, for the sheriff at this location. The following year, the county constructed a stone building, which became known as the first county courthouse, on the corner of Hickory and Fourth streets. In 1867, a new two-story structure with a basement was built for the jail, sheriff's quarters, and the county's first official courthouse. The log jail and house were torn down, but the stone building remained and was enlarged to accommodate officials. , The additional space proved insufficient. In 1877, a resolution was passed recommending the construction of a new building, though no further action was taken for several years. There was disagreement about the location being in Garden City or Mankato. Eventually, the Mankato location was approved and on October 1, 1889, the courthouse was completed. , The Blue Earth County Courthouse was designed by the architectural firm Healy and Allen with contractors Ring and Tobin, all out of Minneapolis. It is a mixture of French and Italian Renaissance styles and the exterior is constructed entirely of Minnesota stone harvested from local quarries. A variety of finishes of the stone adds detail, such as the alternating smooth and rock-faced stone. Each side of the building is symmetrical. The original entrance, with its elaborate portico, is on the northwest side of the building. Above this entrance is a four-story tower with its copper dome and statue of Lady Justice. Also in the tower is a clock, which was added in 1991 through private donations. , Originally, the building had two floors, a basement and an attic. An extensive remodel began in 1965 to create an additional floor, which created more space and gave the interior a more "modern" look while keeping the building's historical outside appearance. , In 2009, the court system moved to the new Blue Earth County Justice Center. The county continues to house several Blue Earth County Departments in this historic courthouse. , This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and locally designated as a Heritage Preservation Landmark in 2012.