Washington County Historic Courthouse

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Historic Courthouse is closed until January 2024

The Historic Courthouse in Washington County is currently undergoing exterior restoration this year to preserve and improve the building. 

Tours, activities, events at Historic Courthouse not available at this time.

Starting from June 1, the courthouse and its surroundings, including the grounds and parking lot, is closed to the public throughout the construction period. Stay informed: learn more about the project and sign up for updates. A camera is placed on-site and takes a picture every 12-14 minutes during the entire construction project. This is a great way to view recent activity and the progress throughout construction.


Located high on the hill overlooking downtown Stillwater, the Washington County Historic Courthouse is the longest standing courthouse in the state of Minnesota, serving as the county seat for over 100 years. Now a Washington County Park, the Historic Courthouse offers daily guided and self-guided tours, activities for families, educational programming for the public, schools and scouts, public events, and private meeting and event rental spaces.

Historical Marker outside of the Washington County Historic Courthouse

  1. Family Activities
  2. Walking Tours
  3. Team-Building

In addition to self-guided and guided tours, the Washington County Historic Courthouse offers fun activities for children, families, and all those who are young-at-heart.

Scavenger Hunt

Step into the shoes of a County Sheriff and hone your detective skills with the Courthouse Scavenger Hunt. Search for items throughout the building - children who find them all will win a prize!

Playing the Past

Uncover the history of Washington County and the lives of area residents using our interactive biography boxes and timeline. Using what you have learned as inspiration, create your own character. Visit the clothing display and dress up as your character! Will you be a pioneer, a fine Victorian lady/gentleman, judge, or deputy?

Create a Comic Strip or Write Your Own Story

Learn about the courthouse mice, Gus & Sig, along with Winfield the Cat - lovable characters created by courthouse volunteers. Create your own stories and comic strips about people or animals that live in historic places. 

Children’s Corner

Stop by the children’s corner to touch and feel courthouse artifacts, including tiles and snow catchers, or stamp a county seal using an antique stamp.

*A St. Croix Valley History curriculum unit is also available for teachers and homeschools using the interactive biography boxes available at the Historic Courthouse.