Jefferson County Courthouse
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Images
The Jefferson County Courthouse was built in 1889 and is excellent example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture.
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
Boulder became the county seat in 1883. During this time, gold and silver mines were very productive and spurred the development of the region. The government offices were first located in an existing building and there was discussion as to whether it should be renovated or not. It was decided that new courthouse should be built instead and the county commissioned John Paulsen to design it. Paulsen was born in Germany and arrived in Montana in 1887 to work as the state architect. He designed a number of buildings in Montana during the next ten years including the former Montana Deaf and Dumb Asylum, which is located here in Boulder, and the Main Hall at what is now the University of Montana Western in Dillon.
Sources
DeHaas, John N. "Jefferson County Courthouse." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. August 6, 1980. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/0c9d2fe6-2fef-42c0-90c1-61c95139e654.
The Montana National Register Sign Program. “Jefferson County Courthouse.” Montana Historical Society - Digital Vault. Accessed June 24, 2020, http://digitalvault.mhs.mt.gov/items/show/20562.
Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jefferson_County_Courthouse_(2013)_-_Jefferson_County,_Montana.png