Old Warren County Courthouse

Old Courthouse, Warren County
The Old Courthouse in 1940
Location 1008 Cherry Street, Vicksburg, Mississippi
Coordinates 32°21′7.38″N 90°52′43.04″W / 32.3520500°N 90.8786222°W / 32.3520500; -90.8786222Coordinates: 32°21′7.38″N 90°52′43.04″W / 32.3520500°N 90.8786222°W / 32.3520500; -90.8786222
Built 1861
Architect William Weldon
Architectural style Greek Revival
NRHP reference # 68000029
USMS # 149-VKS-0042-NHL-ML
Significant dates
Added to NRHP May 23, 1968[1]
Designated NHL May 23, 1968[2]
Designated USMS March 5, 1986[3]

The Old Courthouse, Warren County, also known as Warren County Courthouse, stands prominently on a hill in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and was a symbol of Confederate resistance during the Siege of Vicksburg.[4] It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1968[2][4] and a Mississippi Landmark in 1986.[3] The landmarked area comprises the entire Courthouse Square, which includes the courthouse and four attached buildings that were originally cistern houses for catching rainwater to fight fires, but these were later converted into offices.[4]

Atop one of the highest bluffs in Vicksburg, construction began in the summer of 1858. The property for the new building was donated to the city by its founder, Newitt Vick. The Weldon brothers from Rodney, Mississippi, were hired to build the courthouse, which was completed in 1860 at a cost of $100,000.

During the Civil War, the building was one of the main targets in Vicksburg. As hard as the Union tried, the building suffered only one major hit. After a 47-day siege, on July 4, 1863, the Stars and Bars were lowered and the Stars and Stripes were raised. Many historical figures have visited the courthouse over the years, including Jefferson Davis, Booker T. Washington, William McKinley, and Theodore Roosevelt.

Famous trials were conducted in the building's second-floor courtroom. One was of freed slave Holt Collier, who in 1867 was arrested and charged with the murder of a white police officer from North Mississippi. He was acquitted of all charges for defending his former owner's name.

The original iron doors and shutters are still on the building today.

On June 3, 1948 the museum opened its doors, thanks to Eva Whitaker Davis. Mrs. Davis is the founder of the Vicksburg and Warren County Historical Society.

References

  1. ↑ National Park Service (2007-01-23). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 "Warren County Courthouse". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved 2007-10-13.
  3. 1 2 "Mississippi Landmarks" (PDF). Mississippi Department of Archives and History. May 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 9, 2010. Retrieved May 14, 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 Patricia Heintzelman (May 15, 1975), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Old Court House, Warren County (pdf), National Park Service and Accompanying 4 photos, exterior and interior, from 1966, c. 1863, and undated. (1.19 MB)

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