Tag Archives: courthouse

Americana, Photography

Danville Kentucky Courthouse

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Some images of the courthouse in downtown Danville, KY. I grew up in this small town in central Kentucky. It’s easy to overlook places in your home town. I don’t remember the courthouse looking quite so impressive when I live there.

Early Morning Sun

Early Sunday morning is a great time to visit small town America. The streets are virtually empty. If you time it just right, you’ll get to hear the church bells ring. But since it was in the early morning, the sun was not in an ideal place. I decided to play it up a bit as the golden light shines through the windows.

Colorful flowers in front of the courthouse in downtown Danville, KY. The early morning light gives the building a golden glow.
Three larger upper windows and three arched doorways. A beautiful courthouse with great details.
The front of the courthouse in Danville, KY.

 

Prints of these images are available here. 

 

 

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Americana, Photography

Courthouses of Tennessee

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I have traveled around the world and seen some amazing architecture. Courthouses in particular seem to get the special treatment, no matter where you are or how large the town or city. They tend to be the largest, most ornate structure in town, outside of churches or cathedrals. I have found this to be especially true in small American towns. In these small towns, the courthouse is often in the center of town, towering over all other buildings.

Knoxville Tennessee

Knoxville has the Knox County Courthouse, erected in 1885. The historic courthouse still houses several county departments. However, the majority of the city and county services are in the City-County building, erected in 1979.

Knoxville also has the Howard J. Baker Federal Courthouse.  While originally built for Whittle Communications in the early 1990s, it has all the makings of a proper courthouse. I guess that’s why they made it into one. It has a large central courtyard with a  beautiful clock tower and cupola. It is considered a postmodern version of neo-Georgian architecture.

The quatrefoil patterns on the balcony and porch of the courthouse.
A better view of the front porch and the arches at the entryway.
The clock tower gives the courthouse a colonial element
A man takes a smoke break in the courtyard of the Knox Co. Courthouse.
The Howard J. Baker Federal Courthouse has an arched entry and a beautiful clock tower and cupola.
Howard J. Baker Federal Courthouse in downtown Knoxville, TN

Other Tennessee Courthouses

The historic Loudon County Courthouse is the standard brick with arched windows and doors. Although, it does not have a clock tower or a front porch with columns, as most courthouses do. Construction on this building began in the late nineteenth century.  The Jefferson County Courthouse is located in downtown Dandridge, TN. One of the oldest courthouses in the state of TN, it was erected in 1845. It is constructed in the Greek Revival Style with a tall cupola and large square columns on the front entry. The building is on a large hill, giving it a slightly uneven look.

The historic Loudon Courthouse
It’s Christmas in small town America. The historic Loudon Courthouse is decorated and picturesque.
Jefferson County Courthouse is located in downtown Dandridge, TN.