First Fulton County Courthouse

Photo: Atlanta History Center

 

Location: Atlanta

Date Built: 1853-54

Architectural Style:

Designer: Columbus Hughes

Other Information: Construction of a city hall for Atlanta began Oct. 1853. While work was underway, the legislature created Fulton County in Dec. 1853. In May 1854 Atlanta and Fulton County officials negotiated an agreement whereby Fulton County could use the city hall as the county courthouse for as long as it desired -- with no rent to the county. Built on a hill overlooking Atlanta, the city hall/county courthouse was completed in Oct. 1854. Costing $35,000, the two-story brick building, measuring 50' x 70', boasted a wooden, two-tiered tower topped by a cupola (a small dome usually topping a tower) and bronze eagle. Soon after construction was completed, a fence was built around the entire block on which the building was located (see photo).

In September 1864, after the capture of Atlanta, the 2nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry camped on the grounds of the city hall/county courthouse (see photo). Earlier, Fulton County officials had moved county records to Zebulon, Ga. for safekeeping. Though spared from burning, the city hall/county courthouse suffered abuse during the occupation of Atlanta by Sherman's forces. In Oct. 1865, the Fulton County grand jury recommended that the inferior court have the county's part of the joint building "repaired thoroughly."

During Reconstruction, Atlanta was designated state capital, and from July 1868 to Jan. 1869, the city hall/county courthouse took on a third function -- Georgia state capitol. The building served as Georgia's temporary statehouse from July 1868 to January 1869. Conditions were so overcrowded, however, that the unfinished Kimball Opera House was quickly converted for use as state capitol. After state government moved to its new home, the city hall/county courthouse continued as home for Atlanta and Fulton County governments.

In 1877, as part of a deal to keep the state capital from returning to Milledgeville, Atlanta city officials offered to tear down the city hall/county courthouse and build in its place a new state capitol. When the legislature accepted the offer, Fulton County began making plans for a new facility. In 1879, the legislature to pass a law allowing Fulton County to levy a tax to fund construction of a new courthouse. On Nov. 1, 1880, the land on which the old city hall/county courthouse was located was deeded to the state. In Oct. 1864, the building was torn down, and several weeks later work began on excavating the ground for construction of a new state capitol.

© Carl Vinson Institute of Government

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