Wise County Courthouse
Why it's listed
Wise County's courthouse stands on the public square in Decatur, Texas. Built between 1895 and 1897, it is the work of architect J. Riely Gordon and is the county's third courthouse, following a frame building of 1860 and a second structure that burned in January 1895. Gordon used a Greek cross plan with entrances at the four inner corners and a central stair. The broken massing suits the Romanesque Revival style, with turrets, dormers and a central tower with corner bartizans. The walls are Texas granite in two colors, laid in alternating pitch-faced and hammered courses, with polished pink granite columns, terra cotta friezes and a light blue Bangor slate roof. Inside, marble tiles and wainscoting finish the lobbies, halls and stairways. The design resembles Gordon's courthouse for Ellis County. The building was recognized for the quality of its materials, craftsmanship and overall design, and it continues to serve as the county courthouse.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the courthouse is a distinctive example of Gordon's Romanesque Revival work, with a Greek cross plan, a central tower, turrets and fine granite masonry. Its construction and overall design are described as outstanding and worthy of conservation. It is also noted as similar to Gordon's Ellis County Courthouse.
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 76002085, listed December 12, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Public Sq., Decatur |
|---|---|
| County | Wise County |
| Listed | December 12, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76002085 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1895-1897 |
| Architect / builder | J. Riely Gordon (architect); builder/contractor listed as Y.A. White |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival (Richardsonian) with Sullivanesque ornamentation |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, altered (major alterations 1960), occupied and still used as a courthouse. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 33.23432, -97.58693 (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 76002085.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q107319226
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.