Boulder County Courthouse

Boulder County Courthouse is a five-story building that rises from the downtown streetscape with strong vertical lines and a central tower defining its silhouette. The limestone exterior displays the restrained Art Deco style popular when the structure was built.

The courthouse was completed in 1933 as a replacement for the original 1882 building destroyed by fire. Architect Glen H. Huntington designed this new structure reflecting the design trends of its era.

The building holds significance in the history of LGBTQ rights due to an important decision made within its walls decades ago. Visitors can sense the weight of this moment when standing in the spaces where such a meaningful step took place.

The building sits on Pearl Street in the heart of downtown and is walkable from most surrounding areas. Public spaces inside are open during business hours for visitors to view the interior and administrative offices.

In 1975 a county employee made history by issuing the first same-sex marriage licenses in Colorado from within this building. This bold step happened years before such unions gained broader legal recognition elsewhere.

Location: Boulder

Inception: 1933

Architectural style: Art Deco architecture

Part of: Downtown Boulder Historic District

Address: 1300 Pearl Street

GPS coordinates: 40.01820,-105.27810

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:40