Old Courthouse Museum

121 Allamakee Street Waukon IA, 52172


Constructed in 1861; native brick Italianate/Greek Revival; listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Center of great controversy between the cities of Waukon and Lansing. Both cities raised funds and built “county” courthouses (Lansing completing theirs first). In June of 1866, after ten county seat contests, a posse of 30 men took the county records from the Lansing courthouse and delivered them to Waukon. The Supreme Court later intervened in the dispute, making Waukon the official county seat.

The Museum is housed in the original Allamakee Courthouse built in 1861. The exterior of the Museum is built of native limestone and brick. The interior of this two-story building is built of white pine.