Anderson County Courthouse (Texas)

Anderson County Courthouse
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
The Anderson County Courthouse in 2010.
Location	1 Public Sq, Palestine, Texas
Built	1914
Architect	Page Brothers
Architectural style	Beaux-Arts
NRHP reference No.	92001256
Added to NRHP	September 28, 1992

The Anderson County Courthouse is an historic courthouse located at 1 Public Sq in Palestine, Texas. The Beaux-Arts style building was built atop the highest hill in Palestine. Austin architects Charles Henry Page and Louis Charles Page designed the structure. It was built in 1913 and 1914 and dedicated on December 20, 1914 at a cost of approximately $250,000. The courthouse underwent major restoration in 1986. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 28, 1992.

Anderson County was created by the Texas Legislature on March 24, 1846, and named for former Republic of Texas Vice-President Kenneth L. Anderson. The first Anderson County Courthouse was a one-story wood frame structure built in 1847. It was replaced by a two-story brick courthouse in 1856. The third courthouse, also brick, was completed in 1886. It was destroyed arson in 1913 purportedly to destroy incriminating documents.

The current Anderson County Courthouse is the fourth structure to serve as the seat of Anderson County government. The courthouse uses a Beaux-Arts bi-axial arrangement with a rotunda surmounted by Lady Justice. The building is three stories with a raised basement. It is finished in brick, rock and terra cotta. The design includes projecting porticos with pediments on all four elevations each with six ionic columns. The courthouse underwent major restoration in 1986.