Old Indiana County Courthouse
Why it's listed
Built in 1869-70 to a design by architect James W. Drum, the Indiana County Courthouse in Indiana, Pennsylvania, is a brick building of three and a half stories with a high mansard roof and a clock tower rising over the center. Drum described its style as Modern Renaissance, or Second Empire. The courthouse replaced an earlier building used from 1808 to 1868. It housed county records and most government offices, and for a century it was the place where residents came for matters ranging from dog licenses to jury service. The building is regarded as an excellent example of the Second Empire style for public buildings. Its stone-faced classical entrance has four Corinthian columns beneath a pediment, and its tower is ringed by twenty Corinthian columns. Its interior has marble detailing, woodwork, and frescoes. The building was also the site of a 1960 speech by John F. Kennedy, and John S. Fisher, later governor of Pennsylvania, practiced there.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building exemplifies the county courthouse's role in rural Pennsylvania life and is an excellent example of the Second Empire style. It also cites its association with John F. Kennedy's 1960 campaign speech there and with John S. Fisher, later Governor of Pennsylvania, who practiced in the building. The courthouse also stands on land donated by George Clymer, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
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 74001788, listed October 29, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 601 Philadelphia St., Indiana |
|---|---|
| County | Indiana County |
| Listed | October 29, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001788 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1870 |
| Architect / builder | James W. Drum (architect) |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied by the National Bank of the Commonwealth, which began a restoration of the building; the form states the building is in excellent condition and largely original in appearance. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Downtown Indiana Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.62312, -79.15171 (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 74001788.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q1661293
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.