Walk into downtown Covington, and you can’t miss it. It’s huge. The Fountain County Courthouse in Covington Indiana sits right there in the center of the square, a massive hunk of Indiana limestone that looks like it belongs in a much bigger city. Honestly, if you’re just passing through on your way to the Illinois border, you might think it’s just another Midwestern government office. You’d be wrong. It’s actually one of the most significant architectural and artistic landmarks in the entire Wabash Valley.
Most people see a courthouse and think of taxes or traffic tickets. Boring stuff. But the Fountain County Courthouse is different because of what’s hiding on the walls inside.
Back in the 1930s, while the rest of the country was struggling to find a nickel for a cup of coffee, this building was being transformed into a literal art gallery. We’re talking about the murals. They cover over 2,500 square feet of wall space. It’s one of the largest collections of Depression-era murals in the United States. And they weren't painted by some random hobbyist; they were the work of local artists funded by the Works Progress Administration (WPA).
The Architecture: Why it Looks So Different
The building we see today isn't the first one. Not by a long shot. Fountain County was formed in 1826, and they went through a few iterations before settling on this Art Deco masterpiece. The current structure was completed around 1937. It was designed by Louis R. Johnson and built by the firm of Bevington and Williams.
If you look closely at the exterior, you’ll see that "Stripped Classical" style that was all the rage during the New Deal era. It’s got those clean, vertical lines. No excessive fluff. It looks powerful. It looks permanent. That was the whole point during the Great Depression—to build things that made people feel like the government wasn't going to collapse tomorrow.
The Mural Project: A Local Legacy
Let’s talk about Eugene Savage. If you know anything about American art history, that name should ring a bell. He was a Covington native who became a big deal at Yale University. When the time came to decorate the new courthouse, Savage didn't just mail in some sketches. He supervised a team of local artists to tell the story of Fountain County.
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The murals aren't just pretty pictures. They are a chronological history. You start with the indigenous peoples and the early pioneers, move through the arrival of the Erie Canal, and end up with the industrialization of the early 20th century.
- The North Wall: Focuses on the early settlers. You see the grit.
- The South Wall: Highlights the importance of the Wabash River.
- The Grand Staircase: This is where the scale really hits you.
The coolest part? The models for the people in the murals were often actual residents of Covington. Imagine walking into your local courthouse to pay a bill and seeing your grandfather’s face painted twenty feet high on the wall, dressed like a 19th-century blacksmith. That’s the kind of deep community connection you just don't find in modern architecture.
Inside the Courtroom: Where History Happens
The courtrooms themselves are preserved surprisingly well. You’ve got the original heavy wood paneling and those light fixtures that look like they belong on the set of a film noir. It feels heavy. Important. When you’re standing in the circuit court, you realize that decades of life-altering decisions have happened within those four walls.
Fountain County has always been a bit of a hub for legal talent in Western Indiana. It’s produced governors and high-ranking officials. The courthouse isn't just a backdrop; it’s the engine room of the county.
Wait. Why does this matter to you if you don't live in Covington?
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Because we’re losing these spaces. So many small towns let their historic courthouses crumble or they "modernize" them by putting up drywall over the original stone and replacing the windows with cheap plastic frames. Covington didn't do that. They kept the soul of the building intact.
Modern Challenges and Preservation
It isn't all sunshine and art appreciation, though. Maintaining a building of this size is a nightmare for a small county budget. Stone weathers. Roofs leak. The murals, as beautiful as they are, require specific climate controls to keep the paint from flaking off the plaster.
The Fountain County Board of Commissioners and local historical societies have had to get creative. They’ve utilized grants and local donations to keep the lights on and the limestone clean. It’s a constant battle between preserving history and the reality of 21st-century infrastructure needs like high-speed internet cabling and modern HVAC systems that don't vibrate the art off the walls.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Site
A lot of visitors think the courthouse is a museum. It’s not. It is a working government building. If you go in there on a Tuesday morning, you’re going to be walking past people heading to jury duty or filing property deeds.
You can’t just wander into a private hearing to look at the ceiling. But, generally, the staff is used to people coming in to see the murals. They’re proud of them. Just don't expect a guided tour with a gift shop at the end. It’s a lived-in piece of history.
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Also, people often confuse the "Covington" in Indiana with the one in Kentucky. Totally different vibe. The Fountain County Courthouse in Covington Indiana is nestled in a town of about 2,600 people. It’s quiet. It’s classic Indiana.
Why You Should Visit
If you’re a fan of the WPA era, this is a bucket-list item. Period. There aren't many places where you can see such a concentrated effort of public art that has survived nearly a century without being painted over or destroyed by "renovations."
The town square itself is a bit of a time capsule. You have the Beef House nearby (which is legendary for its rolls, by the way), and the Wabash River is just a stone's throw away. It’s a perfect Saturday trip if you’re coming from Indianapolis or Lafayette.
Actionable Insights for Your Visit
Planning a trip to see the Fountain County Courthouse in Covington Indiana? Don't just wing it. Here is how to actually get the most out of the experience:
- Check the Calendar: Since it’s a functioning courthouse, it is closed on weekends and federal holidays. Aim for a mid-morning visit on a Tuesday or Wednesday to avoid the Monday morning rush or the Friday afternoon "I want to go home" crowd.
- Start at the Top: Take the stairs. The perspective of the murals changes as you move between floors. The height gives you a sense of the scale that you just can't get from the ground floor.
- Bring a Flashlight: I’m serious. Some of the corners of the mural halls can be a bit dim depending on the time of day and the building’s lighting. A small penlight helps you see the detail in the brushwork.
- Talk to the Locals: If you see someone who looks like they’ve worked there for thirty years, ask them about the murals. Most of the staff have "insider" stories about which local figures are depicted in the paintings.
- Respect the Rules: You’ll likely have to go through a security checkpoint. No knives, no pepper spray, no nonsense. Leave that stuff in the car so you don't get turned away at the door.
- Document it (Carefully): Photography is usually allowed in the public hallways where the murals are, but never in an active courtroom. Always ask the security guard or a clerk before you start snapping photos.
The Fountain County Courthouse is a testament to the idea that government buildings don't have to be ugly. They can be vessels for a community's history, its art, and its pride. Whether you're an architecture geek or just someone who appreciates a good story told in paint, it’s worth the drive to Covington.