The 1876 Marion County Courthouse, designed by Irishman Isaac Hodgson, is probably one of the biggest losses, literally– and in terms of architectural and historical significance, of Indianapolis Preservation Denied.
The building stood for 85 years, but in 1962, the needs of more space and modern coveniences were fulfilled by a new, modern, million square foot office tower known as the City-County Building.
Photo from the IHPC files showing the old courthouse under demolition–destroyed in 1963. Where this ornate Victorian jewel once stood is now a concrete and grass plaza.
Was this North or South of where the City-County Building is now? (It looks like South?)
Correct. The current City County building was built immediately north of the Marion County courthouse while still in use.
My father once told me that shortly after the City County Building was completed, it won an architectural award for a structure that exhibited “outstanding consummate dullness.” I didn’t fully-understand the meaning of that description, nor what a travesty it was when the old courthouse was demolished, until I was a high school student in the mid-1960’s.