Old Sedgwick County Courthouse, Wichita

The Old Sedgwick County Courthouse is a captivating example of late-19th-century Victorian Renaissance architecture. Designed by W. R. McPherson and constructed by contractor W. H. Sternberg in 1888–1889 at a cost of $197,329, the limestone edifice once served as the county’s judicial and administrative center. Though its central clock tower was lost to a windstorm in the 1950s, and the judiciary functions relocated across the street in 1959, the building still houses various county offices.

Recognized for its cultural and historical importance, the courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and later designated a local historic landmark in 1975. Visitors are drawn to its grand arched entrances, multi-story windows, and the intricate stonework that adorns the cornices and pediments.

Today, the building invites exploration for more than its exterior: its historic interiors include large halls and original details. Just beyond its steps is the Sedgwick County Memorial Hall and Soldiers & Sailors Monument (1913), which commemorates local Civil War veterans in a Second-Empire granite pavilion capped by a copper “Liberty” statue.