Pioneer Courthouse

Washington County's government wandered before it settled — the seat sat at Fort Harmony from 1856, moved to Washington in 1859, and landed in St. George in 1863. The courthouse begun three years later was supposed to be dressed sandstone, but the Tabernacle had claimed the stonemasons, so it rose in locally made brick instead, finished in the 1870s with a cupola, a courtroom upstairs that doubled for plays and dances, and jail cells in the basement. It served until 1960, escaped demolition when the city bought it in 1970, and still stands a block away.

What the plaque says

The seat of county government was originally established at Fort Harmony from 1856 until 1859. It was then moved to the city of Washington until 1863 when St. George became the County Seat. By 1866, work had begun on the Washington County Courthouse, a large and stately building with a balcony and a cupola. The beautifully restored building still stands across the street north and one clock east of here. Construction on the courthouse proceeded concurrently with construction of the tabernacle one block south of here. The same craftsmen who worked on the tabernacle also worked on the courthouse which was completed in 1870. This building was originally to be built of dressed sandstone rocks, but due to the great number of men required to raise the walls of the tabernacle, the plan was changed to lime and brick which were manufactured locally. The three basement rooms were used as a jail. The first floor was arranged as county government offices, and the second floor had a large assembly room which was used, not only as a courtroom, but for government functions, civic group meetings, political gatherings, socials, dances and school classrooms. A walk through the pioneer courthouse reveals 18 inch thick interior walls, some panes of original glass alongside the entrance doors, beautiful chandeliers, original paintings of Zion Canyon and Grand Canyon on the upstairs walls, and an early day security vault. The fact that the courthouse is still a key center of activity in downtown St. George, is a testiment to the quality of workmanship that existed among Dixie’s early master builders.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm — 2.6 mi
  Real dinosaur footprints preserved in ancient sandstone
• Snow Canyon State Park — 7.0 mi
  Red and white sandstone cliffs with ancient lava flows
• Hurricane Canal Trail — 17 mi
  The hand-dug canal that built Hurricane, now a walking trail blasted into the Virgin River gorge
• Kolob Canyons — 32 mi
  The quiet, uncrowded back door to Zion National Park

More markers nearby

• Dixie Academy — steps away
• Brigham Young Home — steps away
• Erastus Snow's Big House — steps away
• The Desert Shall Blossom — steps away