What is the condition of historic Texas courthouses?
By including Texas’ historic courthouses on its 1998 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, the National Trust for Historic Preservation determined the combined structures are threatened by neglect, deterioration, lack of maintenance, insufficient funds, inappropriate development or insensitive public policy. Most of the state’s historic courthouses are in various stages of disrepair, though 201 are still being used for county administration purposes. Existing problems include outdated electrical wiring, old and improper heating and air conditioning, lack of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, leaking roofs and other problems. Many of these buildings are vulnerable to fire, abandonment and even demolition. A few historic courthouses, such as the old Reagan County Courthouse in Stiles and the old Frio County Courthouse in Frio City, have been abandoned.
