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Douglas County Courthouse


category : Historic Courthouses
Douglas County Courthouse The Douglas County Courthouse was built of native limestone in 1904. It was saved from demolition in the 1960s when a modern courthouse was built, and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is currently in use by the county.

Lawrence financier, Mr. J.B. Watkins, owned the land south of town where he had constructed a magnificient building to house his bank and mortgage company - that building is currently the Watkins Community Museum of History. When the county courthouse location was decided in 1902, Watkins donated the land for the courthouse to help bring people towards his bank and business. There were protestations in 1902 that it was too far from the business district. Of the eight sites proposed for a courthouse seven of them were north of ninth street. However, the donated land persuaded the county officials to locate at this corner.



Address: 1100 Massachusettes

Come visit us in Lawrence, Kansas

Attractions and Upcoming Events

Depot and Visitors Center

During its post-Civil War rebuilding, one of Lawrence's main goals was to establish itself as the railroad hub of the Midwest. In 1882, Union Pacific spent $40,000 buying lots in North Lawrence and announced that it would build a new passenger depot. The 1889

Lawrence, KS Railroad History

Opera House/Liberty Hall

Liberty Hall was rebuilt in 1911 as Bowersock Opera House after fire destroyed the original Liberty Hall. Renovated in the 1980

Lawrence, KS Historic Buildings

Museum of Anthropology

The Museum of Anthropology focuses on people from around the world, how they make their living, how they communicate and get along with one another and what they believe. The museum'

Lawrence, KS Museums

Wakarusa River Valley Heritage Museum

The Wakarusa River Valley Heritage Museum has a small but rich collection of local memorabilia including exhibits on the original African-American settlements in the area, the "Border Wars" and the Underground Railroad that passed through the area.

Lawrence, KS Museums

Wilcox Classical Museum at Kansas University

Life-size plaster casts of ancient Greek and Roman sculpture and antiquities, such as vases and coins, are a part of this collection established in 1888

Lawrence, KS Museums

Things to do Historic Courthouses near Lawrence, KS

Douglas County Courthouse

Franklin County Courthouse