See Inside the Old Courthouse in Dayton

I’ve always seen the courthouse in Courthouse Square from the outside, but never from the inside. I recently had a chance to tour this gorgeous old building during an open house and it’s a beautiful place, inside and out. You won’t hear court cases here, but you can book events!

The Building

The building, columns, and floors were constructed using limestone quarried locally. The doors are made of solid iron and they are enormous.

When you walk inside, the hallway is impressive with what I believe are buttresses adding so much drama to the ceiling.

The old Sheriff’s office is now a small meeting room. I love the old furniture!

What was once the Recorder’s office is now a conference room with an original table.

The safe in the Recorder’s office is a unique feature. The brand on the door says “Hall’s Safe & Lock Co. Cincinnati.”

Walk under the first rotunda to see a spiral flying staircase that leads up to the viewing gallery.

The second rotunda makes an elliptical room encircled by the viewing gallery above. This is where court proceedings took place, and it’s the largest space in the building (at least that was part of the tour).

The History

Built in 1847 in a Greek Revival style, this courthouse was where court cases were heard and government officials conducted official business for many years. Learn more here and here.

The courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places and was a stop many previous presidents visited on the campaign trail over the years.

The Events

The courthouse is available for special events, weddings, and more. It can accommodate up to 100 people. Learn more here.