Old County Courthouse

The Old County Courthouse (also known as the Plymouth Old County Courthouse or the Old Town House) is an historic court house on Leyden Street and Market Street in the Town Square of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Built in 1749, the two-story wood-frame building is believed to be the oldest wooden courthouse in the United States; it stands on the site of the first courthouse built by Plymouth Colony settlers, and may incorporate elements of a 1670 building. The site was originally the site of Edward Winslow's first house in Plymouth.[2]

Old County Courthouse
Old County Courthouse is located in Massachusetts
Old County Courthouse
Old County Courthouse is located in the United States
Old County Courthouse
LocationPlymouth, Massachusetts
Coordinates41°57′20″N 70°39′53″W
Built1749
ArchitectPeter Oliver
NRHP reference No.72001297[1]
Added to NRHPFebruary 23, 1972

It is five bays wide and three deep, with a center entry flanked by sidelight windows and pilasters, and topped by a gabled pediment. It was built by Peter Oliver, and initially served as both a courthouse and as town offices. It was converted to solely municipal use in 1821, and had a myriad of municipal functions since then.[3] In the 1970s it was converted into a museum.

The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.[1] It is now known as the 1749 Court House and Museum, and is open from June to September with exhibits of early Plymouth history.

  • Descriptive plaque on exterior of courthouse, 2015
    Descriptive plaque on exterior of courthouse, 2015
  • Herse on display in the old courthouse, 2015
    Herse on display in the old courthouse, 2015
  • Courtroom on 2nd floor, 2015
    Courtroom on 2nd floor, 2015

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. Craig S. Chartier, "Of Plymouth Plantation: Predicting the Location of the Original Plymouth Village, Its Extent, and Its Houses," PARP May 2016, www.plymoutharch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/leyden-st-houses.pdf
  3. "NRHP nomination for Old County Courthouse". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 2014-05-23.


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