Tours of the Washington County Courthouse, also known as “The People’s Palace,” are arranged through the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. Learn more here!

This page is designed to supplement an in-person tour of the Courthouse and is intended to be used with your mobile device. Images below follow themes discussed during the tour.

Trolley Tracks on Main Street

Trolley Tracks on Main Street in front of the Courthouse - From WTAE Washington History Article. Portico can be seen on the left side of the image.

A trolley travels on Main Street toward the Courthouse - From WTAE Washington History Article. The Courthouse dome can be seen in the top right.

A trolley passes the Courthouse steps as seen from the George Washington Hotel

Washington County Courthouses Through Time

The first courthouse built in 1787 was destroyed by fire in 1791.

We don't have any illustrations or photos of the second courthouse, built in 1794. This is the third courthouse, built 1842, after the second courthouse was deemed too small and too expensive to maintain.

The present courthouse opened November 17, 1900. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Statues of George

Terra-cotta statue of George Washington that was on the top of the courthouse from 1900 to 1917. Removed after three lightning strikes.

In 1927, the current statue made of bronze was placed.

The bronze statue was equipped with a lightning rod to protect it.

Rising above the portico there is an elaborately molded entablature with a pediment, having in its center a rose window of colored art glass.

In the original design, on either side of the pediment are square buttresses on which there were terracotta sculptures representing Liberty and Justice. Those statues were removed in 1979 for safety reasons and unfortunately did not survive. They were severely deteriorated at the time.

Frederick J. Osterling Highlights

The Frederick J. Osterling Office and Studio is located at 228 Isabella Street in the North Shore neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Built in 1917, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Frick Mansion, or "Clayton", is located at 7200 Penn Avenue (near the corner of Penn and S. Homewood Avenues) in the Point Breeze neighborhood of Pittsburgh. This was the home of industrialist Henry Clay Frick.

The Heinz History Center, originally built for the Chautauqua Lake Ice Company in 1898, located in the Strip District neighborhood of Pittsburgh.

The Washington Trust Building was built in 1903. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Westinghouse Air Brake Company General Office Building located at Marguerite and Bluff Streets in Wilmerding, Pennsylvania. Built in 1890, this building contained the offices of the Westinghouse Air Brake Company, founded by George Westinghouse. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Union Trust Building in downtown Pittsburgh was built in 1916 for Henry Clay Frick.

Architectural Features

Read more about the Courthouse's stunning architecture in the National Register of Historic Places nomination form!

Other Nearby Buildings

This building is the third jail on site. It was built to house 100 inmates and the County Sheriff's office. Over the years, the jail become too small and too deteriorated to maintain. A new jail across the street opened in 1995 and can hold 258 inmates. The old jail has been adapted and now serves the county as the Family Court Center.

The Courthouse in Pop Culture

The 35^th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, stops in Washington, PA in October 1962. He gave a speech from the steps of the courthouse encouraging citizens to vote.

And here's the trailer for Southpaw (2015) starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Forest Whitaker, and Rachel McAdams - a court room can be seen at 1:17.

Other productions with scenes filmed at the courthouse include the Justified (2010) pilot, Citizen Cohn starring James Woods (1992), and Darrow starring Kevin Spacey (1991).