Old Warren County Courthouse

The Old Courthouse, Warren County, also known as Warren County Courthouse, stands prominently on a hill in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and was a symbol of Confederate resistance during the Siege of Vicksburg.[4] It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1968[2][4] and a Mississippi Landmark in 1986.[3] The landmarked area comprises the entire Courthouse Square, which includes the courthouse and four attached buildings that were originally cistern houses for catching rainwater to fight fires, but these were later converted into offices.[4]

This article is about the courthouse in Mississippi. For the old courthouse in Lake George, New York, see Old Warren County Courthouse Complex.

Old Courthouse, Warren County
The Old Courthouse in 1940
Old Warren County Courthouse is located in Mississippi
Old Warren County Courthouse
Old Warren County Courthouse is located in the United States
Old Warren County Courthouse
Location1008 Cherry Street, Vicksburg, Mississippi
Coordinates32°21′7.38″N 90°52′43.04″W
Built1861
ArchitectWilliam Weldon
Architectural styleGreek Revival
NRHP reference No.68000029
USMS No.149-VKS-0042-NHL-ML
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMay 23, 1968[1]
Designated NHLMay 23, 1968[2]
Designated USMSMarch 5, 1986[3]

Atop one of the highest bluffs in Vicksburg, construction began in the summer of 1858. The property for the new building was donated to the city by its founder, Newitt Vick. The Weldon brothers from Rodney, Mississippi, were hired to build the courthouse, which was completed in 1860 at a cost of $100,000.

Interior of the courtroom

During the Civil War, the building was one of the main targets in Vicksburg. As hard as the Union tried, the building suffered only one major hit. After a 47-day siege, on July 4, 1863, the Stars and Bars were lowered and the Stars and Stripes were raised. Many historical figures have visited the courthouse over the years, including Jefferson Davis, Booker T. Washington, William McKinley, and Theodore Roosevelt.

Famous trials were conducted in the building's second-floor courtroom. One was of freed slave Holt Collier, who in 1867 was arrested and charged with the murder of a white police officer from North Mississippi. He was acquitted of all charges for defending his former owner's name.

The original iron doors and shutters are still on the building today.

On June 3, 1948 the museum opened its doors, thanks to Eva Whitaker Davis. Mrs. Davis is the founder of the Vicksburg and Warren County Historical Society.

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. "Warren County Courthouse". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved October 13, 2007.
  3. "Mississippi Landmarks" (PDF). Mississippi Department of Archives and History. May 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 9, 2010. Retrieved May 14, 2009.
  4. Patricia Heintzelman (May 15, 1975), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Old Court House, Warren County (pdf), National Park Service and Accompanying 4 photos, exterior and interior, from 1966, c. 1863, and undated. (1.19 MB)

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