Gallery: Riverside — Historic County Courthouse
Designed by Franklin P. Burnham of the Los Angeles architectural firm of Burnham and Bliesner, the cost of constructing the Beaux Arts styled courthouse was just under $168,000 (structure only). Construction began on May 7, 1903 and was completed June 23, 1904. In 1995, the courthouse underwent a 3-year, $24.7 million renovation and seismic upgrade.
The building’s ornate facade was modeled primarily after the Grand Palais (with some inspiration from the Petit Palais) from the 1900 Paris Exposition (“World’s Fair”). A 1933 expansion at the rear by noted Riverside architect G. Stanley Wilson closely followed the building’s original designs. A jail facility addition at Eleventh and Orange by another Riverside architect – Herman O. Ruhnau – was completed in 1961. Its blocky, modern look stood in stark contrast to the earlier designs. In 2012, this 1961 addition was demolished.
2025 UPDATE: Gallery is currently unavailable
**Note: According to the Riverside Daily Press of August 9, 1904, the total cost for the Riverside County Courthouse up to that time was $286,752.88, which included the structure ($167,835.34), jail ($36,837.75), land ($20,000), architect fees ($8,247), and inspector fees ($3,200), with the remainder rounded out by other costs, including curbing and walks, furniture, carpet, and other interior furnishings. The article also noted the final cost was expected to reach $290,000 once landscaping and other expected miscellaneous costs were added.
Sources: “Along the Old Roads – A History of the Portion of Southern California that became Riverside County 1772-1893” (Steve Lech), “Colony for California” (Tom Patterson), Riverside Press-Enterprise (RDP-19040702, RIE-19040705, RDP-19040809, RDP-19611208, PE-19981006), City of Riverside, Museum of Riverside, Wikipedia
