The National Trust for Historic Preservation brought its “I Love Texas Courthouses” celebration to the State Capitol Wednesday. The event was part of a month-long campaign to highlight the importance of courthouses to Texas’ history, culture, and community.
At a news conference on the steps of the Capitol, officials displayed a giant heart and “love letter” that included the names of 1,000 courthouse admirers who went online (ilovetexascourthouses.org) to sign it. Texas has 235 active historic county courthouses — more than any state – but at least 75 of them need restoration. Preservation officials are encouraging individuals to go to the website and sign the letter, upload photos, and write personal stories about Texas courthouses.
In 1998 and again in 2012, the National Trust named Texas courthouses to its list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. The Trust also added Texas’ historic courthouses to its portfolio of “National Treasures” — a distinction held by only 33 other historic resources in the nation.
The “I Love Texas Courthouses” celebration was among several Preservation Day events at the Capitol. Preservation Texas officials also announced their list of Texas’ Most Endangered Historic Places. The list included the Duval County Courthouse, built in 1916, in the South Texas city of San Diego. You can learn more about the Most Endangered Historic Places here.