Mifflin County Courthouse
Why it's listed
Lewistown's public square is dominated by this two and one-half story brick courthouse, built in 1842-1843 by the contractors Holman & Simon for about $15,000. It is a Greek Revival design with a triangular pediment over a pedimented entrance, four tall Ionic columns, and a hexagonal domed cupola rising from a three-tiered tower that holds the clock. The interior originally held public offices on the first floor and the courtroom and jury rooms on the second. In 1878 the building was enlarged by about forty feet at the rear to add office space, and the tower was completed under plans by Daniel Ziegler, with construction let to Buyers, Guyger & Company for $9,095. The building replaced an older courthouse on the square, which was demolished after completion. It is regarded as the finest building of its architectural type on the square and one of very few Greek Revival structures in the area.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant as an impressive example of Greek Revival architecture and as the third courthouse built in the county. It is described as the focal point of political life in the county and as one of very few such structures in the area. The 1878 enlargement added rear space and a tower.
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 76001649, listed May 28, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1 W. Market St., Lewistown |
|---|---|
| County | Mifflin County |
| Listed | May 28, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001649 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1842-1843 |
| Architect / builder | Holman & Simon (builders, 1842-1843); Daniel Ziegler (plans and specifications, 1878); Buyers, Guyger & Co. (contractor, 1878) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The courthouse has occupied its location on the square for over 130 years and remains in use as a courthouse. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.59762, -77.57518 (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 76001649.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6843993
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.