Our Proud Heritage

The public buildings of the pre-World War II era, taken as a whole, reflect a heritage we can be proud of. They attest to the fact people cared about the civic nature of their cities and towns. The key public buildings in cities and towns, large and small, were usually well-designed and intended to be centerpieces of the community.

St. Joseph County Court House in Centreville, Michigan
The St. Joseph County Court House has stood in the center of Centreville, Michigan for nearly 100 years.
For a photo & more details about the Court House.
Not surprisingly, public buildings have often been the scene of noteworthy events. See, for example, Central High School; the Old Illinois State House; San Francisco's City Hall; the Leon County Courthouse; and the Salem Custom House.

Hundreds of historic federal buildings are managed by the General Services Administration. See, for example, the Norfolk Custom House and the Tampa Federal Courthouse. For more information about the GSA's role in preserving historic buildings.

When public buildings were dedicated, huge numbers of people turned out. They admired the workmanship of their new courthouse, city hall, or library -- and took pride in what it said about their community.

From the very first, American leaders thought the design of public buildings important: "Public buildings in size, form and elegance must look beyond the present day," noted George Washington.1 -- two more pages