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Building History

The architect William Henry Burrows designed this courthouse in 1887. Working with A.J. Dexter, building contractor, the structure was completed in 1888. The website, Courthouses.com, made notes about this eclectic building: "The courthouse is the oldest courthouse in Washington still in use as a courthouse. The construction contract for the building was awarded at a price of $32,732. A J Dexter received $10,745, for the stone, brick and concrete work. Kribs, Bishop and Arnold were paid $21,987 for the carpentry work. W H Burrows, an architect, was employed as superintendent of construction for a salary of $1,637. The four steel jail cells in use today cost an additional $3,700. The bricks used in the courthouse were reportedly made of local clay in the local Dexter Kiln." (See Courthouses.com, "Columbia County," accessed 12/12/2023.)

Building Notes

In 2012, the Columbia County Courthouse was the oldest courthouse still standing in the State of WA. Resting on high foundations, the Columbia County Courthouse stood two stories tall with a central tower topped by a Second Empire mansard roof.