Red brick rises in front of you at the Adams County Courthouse in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This two-story, red brick building, three bays wide and six bays deep, was built in 1858 and first occupied in 1859. The architect was Stephen Decatur Button of Philadelphia, and John R. Turner of Carlisle carried out the construction.
Originally the brick was painted gray; later you can see the rear wings that were added in 1895. A large clock tower rises about 70 feet (21 m) above ground level, a landmark that has presided over town life for generations. During the Battle of Gettysburg the courthouse served as both a command post and as a hospital for Union and Confederate armies, a sober reminder of the town's Civil War history.
The building's national significance was recognized when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 1, 1974. As you stand here, imagine the comings and goings of 1859, the changes in 1895, and the echoes of the battle that filled these rooms. That 70-foot clock tower has watched over red brick walls and added wings since 1895, a landmark presiding over your town.