Mecklenburg County Courthouse: Classical Revival, National Register

Plan your visit

Recorded location: E. Trade, Alexander, And E. 4th Sts., Charlotte
Official information: Open the official source →
Map: View the recorded location

A historic designation or address does not establish public entry, tours or visitor parking. Confirm access with the property or visitor organization.

Large pale neoclassical courthouse with a colonnade of tall columns, behind a hedge and bare tree, with a thin obelisk visible to the right. — Mecklenburg County Courthouse. Upstateherd · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

Recorded address	E. Trade, Alexander, And E. 4th Sts., Charlotte
Architectural style	Classical Revival
National Register	ref 79001734, listed 1979-05-10
Research depth	dossier, independently sourced

What we established, and from where

The commissioners voted unanimously to build a new courthouse and selected Louis H. Asbury as architect.
independent National Park Service / NC SHPO · checked 2026-09-17
The jail was put on the top floor to relieve the fears of some people about being near it.
independent National Park Service / NC SHPO · checked 2026-09-17
The building sits on a rusticated granite basement with the jail floor treated as an attic.
independent National Park Service / NC SHPO · checked 2026-09-17
The main front carries a ten-column Corinthian portico flanked by end bays with tall round-arched windows.
independent National Park Service / NC SHPO · checked 2026-09-17
The entrance has three pairs of massive panelled bronze doors.
independent National Park Service / NC SHPO · checked 2026-09-17

The primary source

The National Register nomination is the fullest account of this property that exists, written by a researcher and reviewed by the State Historic Preservation Office. The nomination (National Park Service).

Official record

Browse from here

all 4 Classical Revival buildings · all 197 listed places in Charlotte

Where this comes up

Charlotte public art: where to start and what is in the register

What else is close

Let Justice Like A River Roll · about 400 ft away · Attractions & public art
Persistence of Vision · about 450 ft away · Attractions & public art
We Hold These Truths · about 500 ft away · Attractions & public art
The Courtroom · about 0.1 mi away · Attractions & public art
Integrity · about 0.1 mi away · Attractions & public art
Dogwood · about 0.1 mi away · Attractions & public art

Distances are straight-line from the recorded coordinates, not walking distance — there may be a creek, a rail line or an interstate in between.

Mecklenburg County Courthouse