Location Information
(for the Hancock County Courthouse)
Name:Hancock County Courthouse
Address:150 Main Street
City/County:Bay St. Louis, Hancock County
Architectural Information
Construction Date:1911
Architectural Styles(s):Neoclassical
No. of Stories:2
Registration Information
NR District Name:Old Bay St. Louis (2010)
    NR Status:Contributing
    Element No.:450
    MPS:Historic Resources of Bay St. Louis
Mississippi Landmark Information
Designated:08-30-1983
Recorded:10-07-1983
Book/Vol. No.:V. 2, p. 288
Easement Information
No. of Active Easements:2
Date Signed:08-30-1983
Easement Type:Preservation/Maintenance
Book/Vol. No.:V. 2 Pg. 288
Date Signed:05-21-2003
Expires:05-21-2028
Context/Comments
Designed by the New Orleans architectural firm of Keenan & Weiss, this two-story Classical Revival courthouse was built in 1911. It was enlarged in 1920 under the direction of the architectural firm of Nolan & Torre, and in 1937 a jail, designed by Vinson B. Smith, Jr, was added at the rear. This building it underwent an extensive restoration after being seriously damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The courthouse was originally listed on the National Register in 1980 as element #376 in the Beach Boulevard Historic District. Because that historic district was severely ravaged by Hurricane Katrina, the old district documentation was superseded by the Old Bay St. Louis Historic District, which was placed on the National Register on 8 July 2010. The courthouse is now listed as element #450 in the Old Bay St. Louis Historic District. It was designated a Mississippi Landmark on 30 August 1983.

It is included in "Buildings of Mississippi" (2020) (p. 334, GC1).
Brief Description
This is a symmetrical 2-story Neo-Classical style public building with monumental full-height unfluted Ionic columns. The original multi-pane patterned transom and door surrounds remains. A wreath shaped garland decoration sits above the transom. The windows are 1/1 wood double-hung. The first floor windows have lintels and keystones. The second floor windows have a 1-light transom.