Luzerne County Courthouse

The Luzerne County Courthouse is a historic county courthouse located in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania (along the Susquehanna River). The building houses the government of Luzerne County.

Luzerne County Courthouse
Luzerne County Courthouse, October 2009
LocationN. River St., Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Coordinates41°15′5″N 75°52′46″W
Area4 acres (1.6 ha)
Built1906-1909
ArchitectOsterling, F.J.
Architectural styleClassical Revival
NRHP reference No.80003566[1]
Added to NRHPSeptember 4, 1980

History

Development

The courthouse was designed by architect Frederick John Osterling (1865–1934) and built between 1906 and 1909. It is a cruciform plan building in the Classical Revival style, with a domed central rotunda 53 feet in diameter. It is built of Ohio sandstone, reinforced concrete, and terra cotta.[2] It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.[1]

21st century restoration

Citing a century of damage, the county contracted Connecticut-based John Canning Studios for a $2.13 million restoration and conservation project. Having been in the building since the summer of 2017, technicians and artisans have repaired a multitude of artwork and design damaged by past water leakage, efflorescence, high-wattage lighting, cigarette smoke, and neglect. An LED lighting system that will illuminate the dome for 20 to 30 years without harming the finishes was engineered. Only six of the 60 dome lights had been working. The project ended in April 2018, when remaining scaffolding came down.[3]

Courthouse grounds

The courthouse grounds connect with the River Common (a park which runs along the riverbank). The Market Street Bridge bisects the park. Its features include a 750-person amphitheater, paved walk-ways, gardens, ornamental trees, seating areas, a fishing pier, and two grand gateways connecting the city to the river. There are also views of the courthouse from across the river (in Kirby Park and Nesbitt Park).

  • Luzerne County Courthouse in 2007
  • Luzerne County Courthouse in 2013
  • Luzerne County Courthouse
  • Luzerne County Courthouse along the Susquehanna River
  • The River Common with the courthouse in the background
  • Old postcard of the courthouse and a flower garden
  • Old postcard of the courthouse
  • Old postcard of the courthouse and the Palm House
  • A portion of the courthouse rotunda (March 2018)
  • An aerial view of Wilkes-Barre and the Susquehanna River; the courthouse is visible in the foreground
  • The Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania as seen from the Nesbitt Park Disc Golf Course (August 2020)

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania" (Searchable database). CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System. Note: This includes Gary F. Lamont (n.d.). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Luzerne County Courthouse" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-03-13.
  3. Learn-Andes, Jennifer (2018-01-27). "An up-close view of Luzerne County Courthouse restoration". timesleader.com. Retrieved 2018-03-16.


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