Bent County Courthouse and Jail, Gefängnis in den Vereinigten Staaten
The Bent County Courthouse and Jail is a courthouse and prison complex in Las Animas, Colorado, built in the late 1880s. The courthouse features red brick walls with beige stone trim and Romanesque arches, while the attached jail building in Classical Revival style sits directly beside it.
After a major fire in 1888 destroyed the previous courthouse, this building was constructed starting in 1886 and opened in 1889. The jail was built next to it in 1912 and served the county for over a century until a new justice center opened in 2000.
The courthouse is a central gathering point for the community of Las Animas, representing the town's commitment to justice and civic order. Its solid brick construction and formal design reflect how the town valued strength and permanence in its institutions.
The courthouse sits on Courthouse Square and is easy to locate in the town center. Visitors interested in touring the interior should arrange visits in advance, as access is by appointment during limited weekday hours.
Actor Ken Curtis, famous for his role in the television show Gunsmoke, grew up in the jail as a child, where his father Sheriff Dan Gates worked starting in 1927. His mother was known for cooking meals for the inmates.
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