Fauquier County courthouse
| Fauquier County Courthouse | |
|---|---|
| Location | 6 Court St Warrenton, VA 20186 |
| Coordinates | 38°42′49″N 77°47′44″W / 38.713702°N 77.795683°W |
| Built | 1795 |
| Rebuilt |
|
| Restored by |
|
| Architect |
|
| Architectural style(s) | Classical Revival; Greek Revival |
| Governing body | Fauquier County General District Court of the 20th Judicial District |
| Official name | Fauquier County Courthouse |
| Designated | 10/13/1983 |
| Part of | Warrenton Historic District |
| Reference no. | 83004243 |
| Official name | Fauquier County Courthouse |
| Designated | 08/16/1983 |
| Part of | Warrenton Historic District |
| Reference no. | 156-0019-0351 |
The Fauquier County Courthouse, also called the Old Courthouse, is a historic building within the historic district of the Warrenton, Virginia. The courthouse was originally located near the Town cemetery, but was relocated to the current location in 1795.[1] Since then, four iterations of the courthouse have been built, with the current structure having been completed in 1890.[2]
The courthouse is often seen as the architectural focal point of the Warrenton Historic District.[3][4]
History
The original courthouse, constructed in 1759, was built to serve as the county seat of the newly formed Fauquier County.[1] A more permanent courthouse modelled after Lancaster County's courthouse was built from 1760 to 1762 on land formerly belonging to Richard Henry Lee by John Bell.[5] In 1795, the courthouse was relocated to its current location.[1]
A third courthouse built in its current Greek revivalist style was designed and constructed in the same location by John R. Spilman in 1818 for $18,000; however, this structure suffered fire damage in 1853 from a believed act of arson and in 1889 from a fire caused by an election day firework display.[3][5][6]
The current courthouse was designed and restored by William H. Baldwin and Albert Fletcher as a near-replica of the 1818 courthouse and completed in 1890.[3][5] This construction utilized the still-intact walls of the previous structure.[5]
Largely due to the limited space within the 1890 courthouse, a new courthouse was built nearby in 1974 with most judicial operations having relocated to this new facility.[5]
In 2018, the court's clocktower was repaired. This job largely focused on rotting wood within the bell tower's walls and exterior paint.[6]
Notable Events
- August 3, 1825, General Lafayette welcoming address.[5]
- November 5, 1889, fire caused by a firework display caused the structure to burn down. This display was to celebrate a Democratic victory in the 1889 Virginia gubernatorial election.[5]
- July 7, 2025, Google used a photo of the old courthouse in a full-page Wall Street Journal ad for artificial intelligence.[7]
References
- ^ a b c "Warrenton Courthouse". Journey Through Hallowed Ground. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
- ^ "Town History | Warrenton, VA". www.warrentonva.gov. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
- ^ a b c "National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet" (PDF). DHR. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
- ^ "156-0019". DHR. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
- ^ a b c d e f g "National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form" (PDF). DHR. 1983. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
- ^ a b Rosso, Don Del (2018-10-26). "Courthouse clock tower repair costs have doubled". FauquierNow. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ Schwartz, Leland (2025-07-07). "Google picks Warrenton's Old Courthouse for AI advertising campaign". Rappahannock News. Retrieved 2025-07-07.