Martin County Courthouse

Whether you’re a history buff or simply admire grand architecture, the Martin County Courthouse is a must-see on your visit to Fairmont. Nestled in the heart of Fairmont Minnesota, the Martin County Courthouse is more than just a place of law. However, the courthouse features a classic Renaissance Revival style with its symmetrical brickwork, arched windows, and a distinctive clock tower. This beautiful structure was built on the site of Fort Fairmonut, overlooking Lake Sisseton. Designed by Charles E. Bell and built by J.B. Nelson, construction began on April 9, 1906, costing almost $125,000.

The building measures 79 feet by 116 feet with a height of 50 feet to the top of the roof. Its most prominent feature, a high copper dome with a large clock on each of its four sides, extends an additional 58 feet above the roof for a total of 108 feet from the ground to the top of the dome.

The three floors that make up the exterior of the courthouse are constructed primarily of stone. The first floor is made of rusticated Marquette raindrop sandstone in a reddish hue from Michigan. The second and third floors as well as the lower half of the dome are built of smooth, buff-colored Bedford limestone from Indiana. The foundation is made of approximately five feet of concrete.

Inside, visitors can find original metal and stonework as well as murals painted on the third floor and in the dome by Franz E. Rohrbeck of Milwaukee. However, the Martin County Courthouse dome extends 58 feet above the roof of the building. The inside of the dome contains four large paintings symbolizing Peace, Genius, War, and Inspiration. For more information on the paintings, click here!

For more information on the history of the Martin County Courthouse, click here!

If you love history, check out the Martin County Historical Society!