Local architect Day Walter Hilborn designed the five-story courthouse in the Art Deco/Art Moderne style popular for public construction projects in the New Deal era of the 1930s and 1940s. General contractor for the project was the Portland business Ross B. Hammond Company, which specialized in reinforced concrete construction. The 78,000-square-foot courthouse was dedicated Nov. 29, 1941.

The stepped back massing, series of straight lines and angular, recessed, geometric shapes along with a sleek surface, exemplify the Art Deco/Art Moderne style and make it architecturally significant.

The building is also historically significant as the seat of county-level government and politics in Clark County, which is the oldest county in the state of Washington. The courthouse functioned as the headquarters for county government, an important administrative division of state law. 

The interior of the building retains a relatively high degree of integrity. Much of the public spaces have maintained their historic features and finishes including the terrazzo floor, marble finishes and bronze art deco lighting and other decorative features. The two original courtrooms on the fourth floors have much of their original features such as the wood paneled walls, judge‘s bench, bench seating (pews) tables/chairs for the attorneys; and jury chairs. Modifications to the interior are limited to altered office spaces which accommodated additional courtrooms. 

Buckskin Brigade Sculpture

The original Buckskin Brigade sculpture on the front entrance, designed by Hilborn was reportedly poured as an integral part of the wall of the structure. The bas-relief sculpture depicted an Iroquois Indian in breech clout and braids and two tall trappers in fringed buckskin jackets, wool pants, and sashes. The sculpture symbolized the role played by frontier settlers and Native Americans in the development of Clark County as a center of government and business.

The Buckskin Brigade stood over the main Courthouse entrance from 1941 to 1978. In 1978, when the building was being prepared for painting it was noticed that the sculpture was damaged and it was taken down. After many years of grassroots fundraising, enough money was collected to recreate the sculpture in bronze, which was installed on September 13, 1990.

• Listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2014
• Listed in the Washington Heritage Register in 2014

Related information:

• Clark County Courthouse National Register Nomination