Rice County Courthouse and Jail

Rice County Courthouse is a judicial building in Art Deco style in Faribault, built with local Faribault stone with natural-face construction and horizontal bands of sawed-faced stone. The structure features geometric ornamental elements throughout and is defined by its distinctive 1930s architecture.

The building was constructed in 1934 as a major investment in public infrastructure during the Great Depression. Its creation shows how the community committed to its institutions during difficult economic times.

The courthouse interior displays Tennessee marble walls and a terrazzo map of Rice County on the floor, with relief sculptures showing civic life and farming traditions. These artistic elements tell the story of the region's values and its agricultural heritage.

The courthouse remains an active judicial center with standard business hours for public access and court proceedings. The building and its surroundings are easily accessible on foot, making it a convenient stop for architecture enthusiasts.

The third-floor courtroom has a ceiling height of about 16 feet (5 meters) and is lined with fine-grained walnut wood, with furnishings specifically built for the space in the 1930s. This craftsmanship from that era is visible in the details, showing the care taken by the original builders.