WER Architects restored the historic Hempstead County Courthouse, located within Historic Washington State Park in Washington, Arkansas. The two-story brick courthouse served Hempstead County from its construction in 1874 through the 1930s. Following its use as a courthouse, the building was adapted for use as a school and later as a Visitors’ Center before undergoing a comprehensive historic restoration in 1997. As an important contributing structure within Historic Washington State Park, the project preserved a significant piece of Arkansas history while restoring the building’s original architectural character.

The restoration addressed significant exterior elements of the historic courthouse, including reconstruction of the original cupola, major reworking of the existing roof, extensive exterior masonry repair, and reconstruction of the surrounding porches. These improvements restored key architectural features and strengthened the building envelope while maintaining the character and proportions of the original structure.

Interior restoration efforts focused heavily on the historic courtroom, which was carefully returned to its original character and function. The courtroom’s jury seating, judge’s bench, spectator risers, and seating were restored as part of the project. A custom 12-light electrified replica of an original oil-burning chandelier was also installed, recreating an important architectural detail and helping restore the atmosphere of the historic courtroom.

Throughout the project, WER balanced the preservation of historic materials and architectural details with the practical requirements of rehabilitating a building that had experienced decades of changing uses. The restoration was also approached with sensitivity to the surrounding historic context of Washington State Park, ensuring that improvements respected the character and significance of the larger historic district.