Denton County received a $462,000 grant from the Texas Courthouse Preservation program to develop plans and specifications for the restoration of its Richardsonian Romanesque style 1897 Courthouse on the Square (above), while Llano County received $2.8 million to restore its 1892 Courthouse (below) -- allowing for needed roof and window repairs, upgrading utilities, and returing the courtroom to its original appearance. View current photos of the Denton County Courthouse and the Llano County Courthouse on the texascourthouses.com web site.

In 1998, the National Trust for Historic Preservation included Texas' courthouses on its list of the 11 most endangered historic places in the United States.

As the National Trust noted: "The historic seats of county government in Texas represent some of the finest works of public architecture in the Lone Star State -- and the nation. Their location and design helped establish each county's unique identity while embodying the majesty, solidity and egalitarian ideals of democratic government.

All 225 of the state's historic courthouses are still community focal points, with 201 remaining in active government use. But many of them -- including some of the oldest and most architecturally distinguished -- have fallen into disrepair due to inadequate funding for preservation and routine maintenance."

Instead of taking offense at the National Trust listing, Governor George W. Bush and the Texas Legislature responded positively -- and rapidly -- by establishing an innovative program to provide state matching grants to counties needing to renovate their old courthouse buildings. See Bill 1341, establishing the Historic Courthouse Preservation Program.

Within little more than a year, grants ranging from $37,000 to over $3 million have been distributed to some 47 counties, making full use of the Legislature's $50 million initial allocation. Many of the counties received funding to develop architectural plans for courthouse renovations, the first step in the preservation process, while others received funds to cover actual repair and restoration work.

The Texas Historical Commission, which administers the grant program, found the response to the program "overwhelming" and noted that "the need is so great that we presently have 99 counties needing more than $201 million for courthouse restoration projects." Additional grant funds will be sought during the next session of the Texas Legislature. More detailed information about the program is posted on the Texas Historical Commission web site.

The Texas program is also highlighted in the Winter 2001 issue of the Planning Commissioners Journal, with photos of three of the courthouses that have received preservation grants.

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