1892 VICTORIA COUNTY COURTHOUSE
101 N. Bridge St., Victoria -Victoria County, Texas

When Don Martin De Leon platted the original townsite of Guadalupe Victoria in 1824, he designated public squares, including the one that would later be shared by city and county governments for many years. Victoria county built its first courthouse, a two-story plastered brick structure, in 1849 on Courthouse Square. This greek revival building served the county for many years.

In 1891, under leadership of County Judge J.L Dupree, commissioners held a competetion for plans for a new courthouse. They awarded the contract to the San Antonio firm of Gordon & Laub, comprised of acclaimed courthouse architect J. Riely Gordon and D.E. Laub. Martin, Byrne & Johnston served as general contractors. Due to Gordons many pressing commitments, he was discharged in May of 1892. Commissioners court relied solely on Martin, Byrne & Johnston, who added some elements to Gordons design. On December 21, 1892 their work was inspected and approved by Eugene T. Heiner, himself a noted texas architect. The county accepted the completed building and moved in on January 1, 1893.

As was his style, Gordon designed a courthouse reflecting the romanesque revival architecture of Henry Hobson Richardson. He adapted Richardsons ideas to the Texas climate, providing a central atrium to bring light and ventilation into the building, which features a hipped roof with cross gables, corner pinnacles and polychromatic stonework. In the 1940s, the county adapted the atrium to serve as offices.

When the need for more space arose in 1961, residents petitioned to save the courthouse, and the county built new facility on the north side of the square. Work at the turn of the 21st century largely restored the courthouse to its original design.