Old Pinellas County Courthouse

The Old Pinellas County Courthouse is a neoclassical courthouse located at 315 Court Street in downtown Clearwater. The building features tall columns, ornate facades, and a symmetrical design typical of early 20th-century civic architecture.

Architect Francis J. Kennard designed the building in 1918 as a replacement for an earlier courthouse. The project went through multiple construction phases starting in 1917 that refined and expanded the structure.

The building sits in the heart of downtown Clearwater and serves as a focal point for official gatherings and civic celebrations. Residents and visitors recognize it as a symbol of local governance and community identity in the area.

The courthouse remains open for administrative purposes and hosts community events that visitors can attend. The building is most easily viewed during regular business hours when the interior is also accessible.

The building underwent three separate construction phases across roughly a decade, with each phase adding or modifying different sections. These multiple building campaigns created layers in the architectural composition that are visible in how different parts of the exterior relate to each other.