Park Rapids in Hubbard County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Hubbard County Courthouse

— Park Rapids History Trail —

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 26, 2025

1. Hubbard County Courthouse Marker

Inscription. In 1883, legislators created Hubbard County, named after then Governor Lucian Hubbard. County officials commissioned prominent architect Milton E. Beebe to design plans for a new courthouse. The result was this Neoclassical style, 2-story red brick building which served as the Hubbard County Courthouse from 1900-1975.

Erected by City of Park Rapids, Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.

Location. 46° 55.2′ N, 95° 3.817′ W. Marker is in Park Rapids, Minnesota, in Hubbard County. It is at the intersection of Court Avenue and 3rd Street W, on the right when traveling south on Court Avenue. The marker is to the left of the main entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 301 Court Avenue, Park Rapids MN 56470, 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,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

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 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Rice Flour Mill Grindstones (a few steps from this marker); Tourism (approx. 0.2 miles away); Park Theater (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fuller's Tackle Shop (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bishop's Department Store (approx. 0.2 miles away); Park Rapids Post Office

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(approx. ¼ mile away); Auditorium (approx. ¼ mile away); This Building (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Park Rapids.

More about this marker. The former Hubbard County Courthouse now houses the Hubbard County Historical Museum.

Also see . . . Hubbard County Courthouse. Park Rapids History Trail

Before Hubbard County was established, all government dealings in Park Rapids had to be taken to Brainerd, over sixty miles away. Residents lobbied for their own county and, in 1883, legislators created Hubbard County, named after then Governor Lucian Hubbard.

After some political bickering with neighboring town Mantor (later Hubbard), Park Rapids was selected to be the seat of Hubbard County. The first county offices were located in rented rooms around town. In 1890, a two-story building was constructed to house the court and county offices. However, that building, deemed "as unsafe a building as could be devised," was destroyed by fire less than ten years later.

In 1900, county officials commissioned prominent architect Milton E. Beebe to draw up plans for the courthouse's replacement. The two-story red brick building was designed in the Neoclassical style, which was inspired by classical Greek
Photographed by Mark Parker, June 26, 2025

2. Hubbard County Courthouse Marker to the left of the entrance to the Hubbard County Historical Museum
and Roman architecture. This style was often used for public buildings in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

(Submitted on July 14, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

Hubbard County Courthouse 1900 Cornerstone image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 26, 2025

3. Hubbard County Courthouse 1900 Cornerstone

Full view of the former Hubbard County Courthouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 26, 2025

4. Full view of the former Hubbard County Courthouse

Credits. This page was last revised on July 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 93 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 14, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.