Civil Courts Building, Art Deco courthouse in St. Louis, Missouri, US
The Civil Courts Building is an Art Deco courthouse that rises 386 feet above downtown St. Louis with limestone walls and 32 Ionic columns. Its pyramid-shaped roof capped with sphinx sculptures creates a distinctive silhouette that stands out from the surrounding buildings.
Construction of this courthouse began in 1928 and finished in 1930 as part of St. Louis's City Beautiful movement to enhance the city. The building represents the era when the city invested in grand public structures to reshape its urban landscape.
The building lights up in rainbow colors during St. Louis Pride celebrations, making it a visible symbol of community acceptance. This annual display shows how the courthouse has become a gathering place for local expression beyond its legal function.
The structure sits along North Tucker Boulevard in the downtown area and is easy to access while walking through the city center. Visitors can admire the exterior at any time, and the building occasionally hosts public events and celebrations.
The building's pyramid-shaped roof draws inspiration from the ancient Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. This uncommon design choice gives the courthouse a rare architectural connection to classical antiquity.
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