Old Courthouse Museum (Sioux Falls)

Old Courthouse Museum (Sioux Falls)

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Begun: 1889

Completed: 1893

Closed:1962

Reopened: 1974

Wallace L. Dow

43.551877413329855, -96.72838695389254

quartzite, glass

Public

Richardsonian Romanesque

The structure is very unique in its form. Viewed from above, it forms an “L” shape. In addition, it features what appears to be a courtyard placed in the upper right quadrant of that L. It is a three story building which features a few entrances, but most notably the one on the tower side facing Main Street. Its materials echo the known traits of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture, with it featuring granite(stone) and glass. Interestingly, in this case, the granite is a specific type known to Sioux Falls. It is used in more of the area’s educational, public, and ecclesiastical buildings. The building method also screams Richardsonian once more, with pyramid tops for roofing. Interestingly, the courthouse had a newer version created and the original was set for demolition. It was the people of the local area, who vouched to keep the structure upright! It was ultimately repurposed as a museum in 1974, where it still proudly holds up to this day!

Image 1: ARTSTOR/JSTOR

Photographer: Smith, G. E. Kidder (George Everard Kidder)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Julian Forster

Michelle L. Dennis, "Old Courthouse Museum", [Sioux Falls, South Dakota], SAH Archipedia, eds. Gabrielle Esperdy and Karen Kingsley, Charlottesville: UVaP, 2012—, http://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/SD-01-099-0063.