Bullitt County Courthouse

• Location: Shepherdsville, Kentucky, USA

• Architect: Mason Maury

• Style: Romanesque Revival

• Completed in: 1902

The Bullitt County Courthouse is a historic government building located in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. It serves as the center of the judicial system for Bullitt County.

Bullitt County, situated in the state of Kentucky, was officially established in 1796 and named after early pioneer Alexander Bullitt. Initially inhabited by Native American tribes, the area saw the arrival of European settlers in the late 1700s. The formation of the Bullitt County Circuit Court in the 19th century was a significant development, offering a formal framework for legal proceedings and appeals.

"Historic plaque outside the building"

The current Bullitt County Courthouse is a 2nd courthouse for the county, designed by Mason Maury, a prominent architect based in Louisville, Kentucky.

The first Bullitt County Courthouse was built in 1804 by Henry Crist, however, by 1900, it had outlived its purpose, and a new, larger courthouse was constructed to accommodate the county’s growing needs. The 1st courthouse was demolished and the 2nd courthouse was built on the same location which still stands today and has been preserved and expanded over the years. The front portion of the building now houses the Bullitt County History Museum.

At the rear of the courthouse building stands an old jail cell structure, referred to as "The Old Stone Jail." This facility served the courthouse until 1947, when it was closed due to numerous escape attempts prompted by the severe conditions faced by inmates.

"The Old Stone Jail"

"The iron door of the jail"

"The county's judicial center (left) is located one block from the courthouse (right)."

Reference:

Bullitt County History Museum. (n.d.). First Bullitt County Courthouse. Retrieved December 26, 2024, from https://bullittcountyhistory.org/memories/first_courthouse.html