Keweenaw County - American Courthouses

Keweenaw County is named for the Native American word meaning “portage” or “place where portage is made”.

Surrounding County and Canada Courthouses:

N – Lake Superior and Ontario, Canada

E – Lake Superior

S – Baraga County and Houghton County

W – Lake Superior

Created: March 11, 1861

County Seat:

Eagle River 1861 – present

County Courthouse – Eagle River

Location: 5095 Fourth Street / Pine Street

Built: 1866 – 1867

Style: Colonial Revival

Architect: John B Sweatt of Marquette

Contractor: John B Sweatt of Marquette

Description: The building faces south and is a two story white colored wood structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Eagle River. The clapboard building has a high portico supported by six large white colored Doric wood columns with fillets and bases, rising to a pediment. The entrance is a covered one story projection with balcony above. The main section of the building rises behind the portico. The building has a modillioned cornice and pedimented side dormers. In the interior, the County Circuit Court courtroom is located on the second story and has a bright blue colored carpet and white colored walls. A curved banister separates the judge’s bench from the public seating. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 12th Judicial District, County District Court and County Probate Court. The building was remodeled and expanded in 1925.

See: The architect, John B Sweatt of Marquette, also designed the courthouse in Baraga County and Houghton County.

See: The 12th Judicial District includes Baraga County and Houghton County.

History: The county was created in 1861 and Eagle River was selected as the county seat. In 1861, the court first met in a room in the Phoenix Hotel. The first and present courthouse was constructed in 1866 to 1867 at a cost of $6,578.

See: Michigan’s County Courthouses by John Fedynsky