Wilkes County Courthouse

The Wilkes County Courthouse is a county government building in Wilkesboro featuring Classical Revival and Beaux Arts architectural elements along East Main Street. The structure displays formal columns and a symmetrical facade typical of early 20th-century public buildings designed to convey authority and permanence.

The building was designed by the architectural firm Wheeler & Runge in 1903 as the center for legal proceedings in Wilkes County. Its construction marked an important development in the region's administrative infrastructure during the early 20th century.

The building now houses the Wilkes Heritage Museum, presenting exhibits about early settlement, military history, industry, and agriculture in the region. These collections reflect how local people lived and worked across generations.

Visitors can explore museum collections and see the Old Wilkes County Jail from 1859 along with the Robert Cleveland Log House on the grounds. Comfortable walking shoes are useful since the area contains several historic buildings that reward a leisurely pace.

The courthouse is part of a larger historic district containing multiple buildings of architectural value that together create a cohesive picture of the town's foundational period. This cluster of structures preserves a rare slice of early 20th-century development intact.

Location: North Carolina

Inception: 1903

Architects: Wheeler & Runge

GPS coordinates: 36.14861,-81.15194

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:15