Burke County Courthouse

Burke County Courthouse is a stone courthouse in Morganton featuring neoclassical design with pedimented porticos on two sides and a decorated cupola. The building sits at 102 East Union Street and displays the classical architectural elements common to American county courthouses of its era.

Scottish builder James Binnie constructed the courthouse between 1833 and 1835 using local stone with assistance from German stonemason Frederick Roderick. The building served as an active courthouse for more than 140 years before administrative operations relocated to a new facility in 1976.

The North Carolina Supreme Court held sessions at this courthouse from 1847 to 1862, serving attorneys and residents from western counties.

The building is visible from the street and its exterior architecture can be viewed by visitors at any time. Those interested in exploring the interior should check in advance, as access to the courthouse may be limited depending on ongoing court proceedings.

In 1851 a shooting occurred inside the courthouse when attorney William Waightstill Avery fatally shot Samuel Fleming within the building. This violent incident in a courthouse remains a striking moment in local history that visitors often discover unexpectedly.