Edgar County Courthouse
Why it's listed
Edgar County Courthouse rises from the Town Square in Paris, Illinois, where it serves as a working government building. Construction began with a cornerstone laid in November 1891 and finished in 1893, at a cost of $122,890.90. Architect Henry Elliot designed it in the Romanesque Revival manner, with brick and reinforced concrete construction, heavy rough-hewn stone, terminal towers, medieval-style dormers and restrained carving. Its most distinctive feature is a three-tiered galvanized iron "wedding cake" tower topped by a statue of Justice, which sets it apart from other Romanesque Revival buildings of the period. The nomination argues that the tower reflects the expectation that a courthouse have a tower, achieved here by combining two styles. The building is the third courthouse on land donated in 1823, the only site the county has used for its seat of justice, and it has long been the center of local political life and the downtown business area.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a fine example of late nineteenth-century Romanesque Revival public architecture, set apart by an unusual "wedding cake" tower that blends two styles. It also reflects how county residents viewed themselves and their public buildings. It occupies the only site ever used as the county seat of justice, making it a political and community focal point.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 81000221, listed June 4, 1981. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Main St., Paris |
|---|---|
| County | Edgar County |
| Listed | June 4, 1981 |
| Reference number | 81000221 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1891-1893 |
| Architect / builder | Henry Elliot, architect |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in government use; condition rated excellent, with some alterations such as aluminum windows (1969), a handicapped-access entry and elevator (1970), and remodeled offices. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 39.61171, -87.69571 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 81000221.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5337187
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.