Grant County Courthouse | |
 | |
  | |
| Location | 35 C St. NW., Ephrata, Washington |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 47°19′18.64″N 119°33′12.16″W / 47.3218444°N 119.5533778°W |
| Area | 2 city blocks |
| Built | 1917 |
| Architect | George Keith |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 345332[1] |
| Added to NRHP | September 5, 1975 [2] |
The Grant County Courthouse building is the center of government for Grant County, Washington. It was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1975.
Construction edit
Construction of the Grant County Courthouse began late July 1917 with the purchase of two city blocks in downtown Ephrata to replace the original courthouse that was constructed in 1909 (and the first courthouse of Grant County) by J. O. Cunningham of Wilson Creek for a bid of $4,975. The original courthouse however was of modest construction and quickly became outdated as Grant County grew and due to the growth of Grant County government, inadequate space for county personnel, the lack of archival storage, and safety concerns, a new courthouse building was necessary. The former courthouse was later transformed into a community Methodist church.
With plans laid out by architect George Keith, the building was built in the classical revival style, with terra cotta, concrete, and brick exterior, with ornate columns and cornices. The cost of the Courthouse cost Grant County $63,263 total. On January 25, 1918, the new building was accepted by the Grant County Commissioners from the contractor and the local government moved into the building. County Clerk J. D. Steele was the first government official who occupied the new courthouse. [3]