Old Phelps County Courthouse (Phelps County Genealogical Society and Phelps County Historical Society)

Built between 1860 and 1868, the old Phelps County Courthouse served as the seat of county government for 125 years. The building was expanded and modernized several times, and today it houses the Phelps County Genealogical Society and the Phelps County Historical Society. When it operated as a courthouse, the building became the third oldest one in Missouri still in use. In addition to serving as a home to area organizations dedicated to history, the structure serves as a good example of Greek Revival architecture. During the Civil War, it was used as a Union military hospital. The courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. The Phelps County Historical Society also maintains the old Phelps County Jail and the historic John Dillon House, which is now a museum and located six miles to the east.

The Missouri legislature established Phelps County on November 13, 1857. Court officials and judges first met in the John Dillon House but over the next few years met at other sites in Rolla, which the court had selected as the county seat. In August 1859, the court appropriated funds for a permanent building but due to legal issues construction didn't begin until January 1860. By the time the Civil War began, the courthouse was mostly finished and county officials moved into the first floor.

However, they didn't remain there long as Union troops captured Rolla on June 13, 1861 and seized the building for use as a hospital. The court moved to other buildings as a result. Although occupied by Union troops, the building was used for other purposes as well. For example, in 1863 a room on the upper floor was rented to a law firm and on Thanksgiving that year the building was used for a religious service.

After the war, work resumed on the courthouse and it was finally finished a year later. Future additions were built in 1881, 1912, around 1950, and 1979. The current courthouse was built in 1992 and the Phelps County Historical Society assumed control of the building.

Ohman, Marian M. "Missouri Courthouses, Phelps County." University of Missouri-Columbia Extension Division. March 23, 1961. https://extension.missouri.edu/media/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/Pub/pdf/countypubs/ued6080.pdf.

Sheehley, Andrew. "The Old Phelps County Courthouse." Phelps County Focus. January 5, 2021. https://www.phelpscountyfocus.com/the_focus_insider/article_a1c94822-43cc-11eb-9ca3-83d5a9682c87.html.

Smith, Art & Strebeck, Earl. "Phelps County Courthouse." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. January 7, 1993. https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/63819957/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_MO/92001745.pdf.