Baltimore City Circuit Courthouses

Baltimore City Circuit Courthouses are two judicial buildings standing across from each other on North Calvert Street between East Lexington and East Fayette Streets in downtown. The structures feature Greek Revival design with columns, stone facades, and grand interior halls decorated with detailed ornamental work.

The current complex replaced a Georgian building from 1805 that was damaged during bank riots in 1835, with construction of the new structures occurring from 1896 to 1900. The rebuilding reflected a desire to create a grand statement about the importance of the judicial system.

The courthouses display interior murals created by Edwin Blashfield and Charles Yardley Turner showing important moments in American history, giving visitors a sense of artistic decoration throughout the spaces. These paintings are woven into the daily surroundings of everyone who enters the buildings.

The buildings are accessible to the public and located near public transit and restaurants in the downtown business district. Visitors should be aware that security checks occur at entrances, so allowing extra time for entry is recommended.

A law museum housed within the complex displays artifacts and objects documenting the history of the local judicial system. This museum preserves details about notable cases and daily court operations that often go unnoticed by passersby.