Old Lee County Courthouse, Fort Myers

The Old Lee County Courthouse was built in 1915 and designed by architect Francis J. Kennard in the Classical Revival style. Its Neoclassical character is highlighted by Doric fluted columns that frame the main entrance, giving the building a strong civic presence.

Visitors are welcome to tour the courthouse and its grounds. Historical markers and artifacts are found throughout the area, including a World War I memorial plaque erected in 1922 to honor Lee County residents who served and died in the war. A later Veterans Memorial Plaque, added in 1967, commemorates those lost in conflicts across the previous two centuries.

The Old Courthouse sits near the modern Lee County Justice Center, though the two buildings serve different functions. The historic courthouse is no longer the county’s primary judicial facility. Today, it houses the offices of the Lee County Board of Commissioners and the local representatives of the state legislature.

Guests touring the courthouse can learn how the county received its name—chosen in tribute to Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Inside, the former commission chambers display a portrait of Lee and additional historical items. Visitors can also see reminders of the area’s segregated past, including the balcony where Black residents were once required to sit during public proceedings.