San Bernardino County Court House

The San Bernardino County Court House is a courthouse featuring neoclassical design with prominent columns across its facade, evenly spaced windows, and a distinctive parapet at the roofline. Inside, the building contains multiple courtrooms and administrative offices where county legal work takes place daily.

The building rose in 1927 following an earthquake that damaged the previous courthouse, prompting the county to fund a replacement through public bonds. This construction marked an opportunity to build a modern facility that would serve the community for decades to come.

The building displays classical design features that reflected the City Beautiful movement, which shaped how American towns looked and felt in the early 1900s. The regular windows and strong columns communicate how courthouses served as symbols of order and civic importance in their communities.

The courthouse sits on North Arrowhead Street and operates as the center of county legal business throughout the week. Visitors should note that the building's unpainted stone exterior shows natural weathering, which adds character to its classical appearance.

The building stands as one of the few surviving examples of Classical Revival architecture in San Bernardino, maintaining its original unpainted stone and stucco exterior. This unusually preserved facade sets it apart from modernized buildings and shows how the structure looked when first completed.

Location: San Bernardino

GPS coordinates: 34.10560,-117.29100

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:00