Lost in the heart of Judiciary Square stands the District of Columbia City Hall. It is also known as Old City Hall. It is a building steeped in history and intrigue.
This impressive structure facing Indiana Avenue wasn’t just built. It evolved. Imagine back in 1818. The District of Columbia sought a design for a new building. George Hadfield, who had worked on the United States Capitol, entered the competition. His initial design was deemed too expensive. Yet, he persisted. By 1820, Hadfield won with a revised plan. Construction finally began in August.
The offices of the district government moved in 1822. However, money problems slowed progress. The District of Columbia City Hall wasn’t fully complete until 1849. To fund its completion, the district leased space to federal offices. Among these tenants was the Recorder of Deeds office. It was headed by Frederick Douglass. He was a noted black leader and abolitionist.
After the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act in 1862, the Old City Hall served a somber purpose. It processed payments to slaveholders. In 1863, the federal government rented more space due to the American Civil War. Later, it bought the building from the district. It became home to the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia.
In 1868, a statue of Abraham Lincoln was erected on the south side of the District of Columbia City Hall. Sculpted by Lot Flannery, this was the first public monument dedicated to Lincoln. By 1908, the District of Columbia government had moved to a new building. The Old City Hall was left to the federal courts.
But its story didn’t end there. In 1916, Congress funded a complete renovation. The building was stripped to its brick frame. The stucco exterior was replaced with limestone blocks on a granite base. Rededicated as the U.S. Courthouse in 1922, it later housed the U.S. Selective Service System.
Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960, the building returned to the district in 1962. It was then used by local courts. Many famous cases played out within these walls. Sam Houston, former Tennessee Governor, was tried here. Also Richard Lawrence, Andrew Jackson’s would-be assassin, faced trial here.
The Old City Hall was also the site of the Pearl incident. This was a significant fugitive slave trial. In 1882, Charles J. Guiteau, President Garfield’s assassin, was convicted here. In 1999, a major renovation began. Steel framing replaced old masonry. The stone façade remained. A new glass atrium was added on the north side.
In June 2009, the District of Columbia Courthouse was rededicated. It became the home of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. The District of Columbia City Hall stands as a testament to time. It has witnessed trials, renovations, and transformations. It stands as a reminder of the evolving story of Washington, D.C.