Polk County Courthouse

Story

The Polk County Courthouse in Des Moines, Iowa, United States was built in 1906. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 as a part of the County Courthouses in Iowa Thematic Resource. The courthouse is the third building the county has used for court functions and county administration.HistoryPolk County built its first courthouse in 1847 for $2,015. The building, which was constructed of brick, measured 26 by 52 feet. It was sold to a church for $800. The second courthouse was built in 1858 for $94,000. The two-story building featured a dome. An addition was made to the building at a later date.The present courthouse was built in 1906 on the same square as the previous courthouse. It was built for $750,000 in the Beaux-Arts style. It was designed by the Des Moines architectural firm of Proudfoot & Bird. The original columns, stairways and walls were constructed in marble. Murals on the fourth floor were painted by Charles A. Cummings and Edward Simmons.