San Juan County is named for San Juan Island, which was named by Francisco de Eliza “Isla y Archiepelago de San Juan” in honor of the patron saint of his sponsors.
Surrounding County and Canada Courthouses:
N – British Columbia, Canada
E – Whatcom County, Skagit County and Island County
S – Jefferson County and Clallam County
W –British Columbia, Canada
Created: October 31, 1873
County Seat:
Friday Harbor 1873 – present
County Courthouse – Friday Harbor
Location: 350 Court Street / 2nd Street South
Built: 1906 – 1907
Style: Classical Revival
Architect: W P White
Contractor: John S Socking of Bellingham.
Description: The building faces southeast and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Friday Harbor. The southeast front has a one story red colored brick porch with recessed entrance. The north side also has a one story porch. The roof line is flat. In the interior the building consists of reinforced concrete beams and floors resting on load-bearing brick walls and piers. Most of the courthouse’s original floorplan survives, as well as wood and pressed glass doors, molded window and door trim, an iron stairway, vault room, and courtroom. Located on the second story, the County District Court courtroom has high ceilings and maintains its judge’s bench and balustrade dividing the trial area from the audience. An addition was constructed on the north side in 1982 with the County Superior Court courtroom located along the northwest side of the first story. The building houses the County Superior Court of the San Juan County Superior Court District and the County District Court. The building was renovated in 1991. The architect was Tonkin / Hayne Architects of Seattle and the contractor was Robbins & Nelson construction Inc. of Blaine. On the northwest side is a two story addition.
History: The county was created in 1873 and Friday Harbor was designated as the county seat. The first courthouse was a wood frame shack and the use of the home of Edward Warbass. The second courthouse located at the southeast corner of Spring Street and First Street was a two story wood frame structure built in 1883. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1906 to 1907 at a cost of $14,000.
County Courthouse – Friday Harbor
County District Court courtroom
County Superior Court courtroom
Photos taken 2016
Images 18*