Polk County Courthouse (Nebraska)

Polk County Courthouse
Polk County Courthouse (Nebraska) is located in Nebraska
Polk County Courthouse (Nebraska)
Polk County Courthouse (Nebraska) is located in the United States
Polk County Courthouse (Nebraska)
LocationCourthouse Sq., Osceola, Nebraska
Coordinates41°10′49″N 97°32′48″W / 41.18028°N 97.54667°W / 41.18028; -97.54667 (Polk County Courthouse)
Area1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built1921-22
ArchitectWilliam F. Gernandt
Architectural styleBeaux Arts
MPSCounty Courthouses of Nebraska MPS
NRHP reference No.89002238[1]
Added to NRHPJanuary 10, 1990

The Polk County Courthouse in Osceola, Nebraska is a Beaux Arts-style building designed by architect William F. Gernandt. It was built in 1921-22 and is located on the Courthouse Square in Osceola. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.[1]

It is a two-story courthouse building on a raised basement, about 98 by 68 feet (30 m × 21 m) in plan, with entrances on north and south facades. Its National Register nomination describes it as "a tour de force of classically inspired ornamentation rendered in creamcolored terra cotta and contrasting tan-grey brick. A variety of rich classical detail, immense columns, pronounced cornice, and rusticated basement are hallmarks of the Beaux Arts Style exhibited on the building. In particular, the terra cotta detail is a visual delight. Acroteria and rosettes march along the top of the projecting cornice, with consoles in an acanthus pattern and an egg-and-dart course below. Shields, della Robbia wreaths, swags, and geometric patterns further adorn the facade."[2]

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. ^ Barbara Beving Long (November 8, 1989). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Polk County Courthouse / PK01-4". National Park Service. Retrieved March 2, 2019. With accompanying six photos from 1988