Alton Lennon Federal Building and Courthouse, Federal courthouse in Wilmington, United States

The Alton Lennon Federal Building and Courthouse is a federal courthouse in Wilmington built between 1916 and 1919, featuring Classical Revival architecture with light sandstone construction and balanced projecting wings with pedimented porticos. The structure houses the Wilmington Division of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

Built between 1916 and 1919 to designs from the Office of the Supervising Architect under James A. Wetmore, the building replaced an 1840s customs house whose front facade design, down to the cast iron details, was carried into the projecting wings. It was named for U.S. Congressman and Senator Alton Lennon in 1976 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

The building preserves design elements from the original 1840s customs house, and it served as a filming location for the television series Matlock during multiple seasons. This television connection brought recognition to the site beyond Wilmington's borders.

The building is located in downtown Wilmington and is a public site where you can visit or view its exterior without special arrangements. Check ahead if you plan to go inside, as court buildings may have security protocols to follow.

The building's projecting wings reproduce the cast-iron details of the front facade of Wilmington's earlier 1840s customs house, so a 1910s structure carries the ornament of its predecessor. It was named for U.S. Congressman and Senator Alton Lennon (1906-1986) in 1976.