Beltrami County Courthouse
The Beltrami County Courthouse was built in 1902 as the seat of the local government of Beltrami County .
history
The building was constructed in 1902 in Bemidji , the capital of Beltrami County . Its function as a district court was discontinued in 1974 and the district court moved to the newly created justice center in the southwest of the city. The historic building was remodeled and additional administrative offices were housed in it. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 for its architecture and historical significance and was nominated as a prominent example of public architecture and Beaux Arts architecture .
description
The Beltrami County Courthouse is a three-story red brick and sandstone building that was built in the Beaux Arts style. The most striking feature is the rotunda that occupies the center of the main hall on the first floor and also extends beyond the entire second floor into the dome . A brass railing surrounds the rotunda. On the outside of the building, a dome extends over an arcaded tower . There is a statue of Justitia , the goddess of justice, on it.
construction
In a vote held on March 11, 1902, Bemidji voters voted for the construction of a new courthouse and prison. For this purpose, a bond in the amount of USD 50,000.00 was approved, which should be used for the construction. Despite an objection, construction began that same year. The architects hired to design the construction were Kinney & Detweiler of Minneapolis . The construction company Schmidt Bros was commissioned with the construction work. The first court hearing in the newly constructed building took place on January 3, 1903.