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Caldwell County Courthouse (Texas)

Coordinates: 29°53′4″N 97°40′18″W / 29.88444°N 97.67167°W / 29.88444; -97.67167
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Caldwell County Courthouse
Caldwell County Courthouse in 2008
Caldwell County Courthouse is located in Texas
Caldwell County Courthouse
Caldwell County Courthouse
Caldwell County Courthouse is located in the United States
Caldwell County Courthouse
Caldwell County Courthouse
LocationCourthouse Sq.
Lockhart, Texas
Coordinates29°53′4″N 97°40′18″W / 29.88444°N 97.67167°W / 29.88444; -97.67167
Built1893 (1893)-1894 (1894)
Built byMartin, Brynes and Johnston
ArchitectAlfred Giles
Architectural styleSecond Empire
Part ofCaldwell County Courthouse Historic District (ID78002902[1])
TSAL No.8200000149
RTHL No.9760
Significant dates
Designated CPJanuary 3, 1978
Designated TSALJanuary 1, 1981
Designated RTHL1976

The Caldwell County Courthouse is a historic courthouse located in Lockhart, Texas, United States.[2][3] The courthouse was built in 1894 to replace the existing courthouse, which was too small for the growing county. The courthouse was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1976 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing property of the Caldwell County Courthouse Historic District on January 3, 1978.[4]

The courthouse was built in the Second Empire architectural style, with the design often attributed to Alfred Giles; however, recent research indicates the building was designed by Henry E.M. Guidon, who eventually became partners with Giles.[5] The courthouse is nearly identical to the courthouse in Goliad County, Texas, as it was built from the same Guidon plans.

The exterior of the three-story courthouse is built with cream-colored limestone and red sandstone. The central clock tower houses a four-faced Seth Thomas Clock Company clock and a 900-pound bell. The mansard roof of the courthouse is characteristic of Second Empire design.

The exterior has been featured in the films What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) and Waiting for Guffman (1996).[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. ^ Texas Historical Commission Archived 2008-06-02 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "City of Lockhart". Archived from the original on February 27, 2008. Retrieved February 9, 2008.
  4. ^ National Register of Historic Places, listed 1978-01-03
  5. ^ Andrews, Michael (2006). Historic Texas Courthouses. Albany, Texas: Bright Sky Press. p. 98. ISBN 1931721742.
  6. ^ Paris Permenter; John Bigley (November 9, 2010). Day Trips® from Austin: Getaway Ideas for the Local Traveler. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 84. ISBN 978-0-7627-6729-8.
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Caldwell County Courthouse clock tower detail in 2019.

Media related to Caldwell County Courthouse at Wikimedia Commons