Since 1850, this site has been the home of local government and a place of civic pride and celebration. Visitors from around the world come to see the courthouse, mural room or grounds; and hundreds get married in the Mural Room or in the Garden every year. The County Board of Supervisors ordered the construction of this now historic courthouse in 1926, after the smaller Greek-Revival courthouse w
as damaged in an earthquake the previous year. The building was dedicated on August 14, 1929 with a ceremonial setting of a bronze medallion, provided by the Native Sons of the Golden West, in a mixture of water from each of the California Missions, sand and gravel from each California County, and cement from local resources; all on the main stage with a packed crowd of residents and visitors looking on during the 1929 celebration of Old Spanish Days.
