{"id":195,"featured":0,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:40:06","latitude":47.5080540000000013378667063079774379730224609375,"longitude":-111.2999009999999771025613881647586822509765625,"title":"Cascade County Courthouse","subtitle":"Great Falls Northside Residential Historic District","fullsize":"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/960ee4c4a706d01974e564b42150cc9d.jpg","address":"415 2nd Avenue North, Great Falls, Montana","all_locations":[],"zoom":17,"creator":["Montana National Register Sign Program"],"description":"Spirited revelry in the streets of Great Falls greeted news of the creation of Cascade County in 1887. Named county seat, Great Falls grew quickly, with county offices located in various downtown buildings. In 1891, voters approved the visionary $20,000 purchase of an entire city block for the site of a future courthouse. Lack of funds and taxable population delayed construction until 1901. Architects H. N. Black and Frank Longstaff called their courthouse design &quot;pure French Renaissance with slight modifications.&quot; Constructed of grey sandstone quarried nearby, the courthouse was dedicated on July 4, 1903. Its interior detailing reflects the skill of the union craftsmen who fashioned it, while its beautifully landscaped grounds are a silent tribute to Great Falls city founder Paris Gibson, a tireless advocate for trees and parkland. The architects&#039; plan called for a dome made primarily from stone; instead, it is constructed entirely of copper. Topped by the Statue of Justice, the dome was used during World War II by lookouts guarding against possible Japanese air attacks. Today the courthouse continues to serve Cascade County citizens.","sponsor":null,"accessinfo":"Public","lede":"","website":"","related_resources":["<a href=\"https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/ccd564e6-4c8a-4ff3-9ae0-91e04e888082\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read about the Cascade County Courthouse</a>","<a href=\"https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/364942c5-6ae7-42e2-829f-f1271cbb5612/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">See photos of the Cascade County Courthouse</a>"],"factoids":[],"files":{"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/960ee4c4a706d01974e564b42150cc9d.jpg":{"id":335,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Cascade County Courthouse","description":"Cascade County Courthouse<br />\r\n2nd Ave N.<br />\r\nGreat Falls, MT (verso)<br />\r\nb&amp;w print | Official records of the Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, Montana  | [no date] | Unidentified photographer","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/960ee4c4a706d01974e564b42150cc9d.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/f27b77e1a874b071d6252091db7be4d0.jpg":{"id":2920,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Cascade County Courthouse","description":"Cascade County Courthouse (PAc 91-51 Great Falls R16 F29). Front to side view of the building, facing northwest near the corner of 2nd Avenue North and 5th Street North. B&amp;W. | Montana State Historic Preservation Office from the Photograph Archives at the Montana Historical Society | 1983 | Photographer unidentified","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/f27b77e1a874b071d6252091db7be4d0.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/475f88db3eac9a35d5eca0f9c7c66508.jpg":{"id":2921,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Cascade County Courthouse","description":"Cascade County Courthouse (PAc 91-51 Great Falls R17 F28). Front to side view of the building, facing northeast near the corner of 2nd Avenue North and 4th Street North. B&amp;W. | Montana State Historic Preservation Office from the Photograph Archives at the Montana Historical Society | 1983 | Photographer unidentified","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/475f88db3eac9a35d5eca0f9c7c66508.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/30a6feb33e4487f35988c887096cd979.jpg":{"id":334,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"415 2nd Ave N","description":"1. 415 2nd Ave N<br />\r\n2. Great falls, MT<br />\r\n3/4 Kittredge 3/90<br />\r\n5. Helena, MT<br />\r\n6. Facing north<br />\r\n#6<br />\r\nRoll 3/10 (verso)<br />\r\nb&amp;w print | Official records of the Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, Montana  | March 1990 | Kittredge","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/30a6feb33e4487f35988c887096cd979.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/5db33a7bf0f8f0a8e82dbba98549b52d.jpg":{"id":3308,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Cascade County Courthouse","description":"Cascade County Courthouse. Front view of the building, facing northeast near the entry of the structure off of 2nd Avenue North. Digital photograph. | Montana Historical Society | June-Aug. 2019 | Joe Furshong","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/5db33a7bf0f8f0a8e82dbba98549b52d.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/7751a34d7c8fd75c98febd658ff43c73.jpg":{"id":3309,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Cascade County Courthouse, Great Falls, MT","description":"Cascade County Courthouse. Front view of the building, facing north near the sidewalk adjacent to 2nd Avenue North leading to the entry of the courthouse structure. Digital photograph. | Montana Historical Society | June-Aug. 2019 | Joe Furshong","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/7751a34d7c8fd75c98febd658ff43c73.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/7d3e8acade6b71978edf823204c13129.jpg":{"id":3310,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Cascade County Courthouse","description":"Cascade County Courthouse. Side view of the building, facing west to southwest near the side entry off of 5th Street North. Digital photograph. | Montana Historical Society | June-Aug. 2019 | Joe Furshong","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/7d3e8acade6b71978edf823204c13129.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/21cb4e98a7f79f9ab09ee747f816024f.jpg":{"id":4886,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Cascade County Courthouse, Great Falls, MT","description":"Interior view of lobby area. Digital photograph. | Montana Historical Society | June 2019 | Joe Furshong, photographer","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/21cb4e98a7f79f9ab09ee747f816024f.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/96573d4acb21392b3933ea5b181d1631.jpg":{"id":4887,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Cascade County Courthouse, Great Falls, MT","description":"Interior view of second floor landing tile and staircase balustrade. Digital photograph. | Montana Historical Society | June 2019 | Joe Furshong, photographer","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/96573d4acb21392b3933ea5b181d1631.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/05a6d492787de50f0ceecb61db6a6fb9.jpg":{"id":4888,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Cascade County Courthouse, Great Falls, MT","description":"Interior view of courtroom. Digital photograph. | Montana Historical Society | June 2019 | Joe Furshong, photographer","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/05a6d492787de50f0ceecb61db6a6fb9.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/9ba062cff45898ec6cacfe31a8e671e7.jpg":{"id":4889,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Cascade County Courthouse, Great Falls, MT","description":"Interior view of stair landing and tile | Montana Historical Society | June 2019 | Joe Furshong, photographer","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/9ba062cff45898ec6cacfe31a8e671e7.jpg"}}}