First block of NW 4th St.On the left is the (now) old Vanderburgh County Courthouse at 201 NW 4th St.The Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse is considered by architectural historians to be one of the most important examples of 19th century governmental architecture in the country. It was designed by Henry Wolters of Louisville, Kentucky and exemplifies Beaux Arts architecture which was just coming into vogue at the time of the Courthouse's design, replacing heavier Victorian styles. Wolters himself studied at the Ecole de Beaux Arts in Paris. It occupies a full city block bound by Fourth, Vine, Fifth and Court streets in downtown Evansville which was once a turnaround basin for the Wabash and Erie Canal. Franz Engelsmann of Chicago is credited with carving the fourteen main statues that surround the courthouse. Much about the history of Vanderburgh County can be gleaned from the sculptures which were all carved onsite. The building is constructed of Bedford Stone, limestone native to Indiana, and the interior boasts marble floors, Ettewa pink marble wainscots, slate stairs and wrought iron and brass handrails. At its tallest point, 216 feet, the courthouse's bell tower dominates the skyline of Downtown Evansville. Construction on the courthouse began in 1888 and was completed by 1890 at a cost of $379,450. County government personnel started moving into the courthouse in early 1891. The courthouse was the epicenter of community life and for the big events of its day. The Commissioners room served as the military headquarters during the 1937 flood when martial law was declared and the courthouse was a stop on the campaign trail for President Harry Truman in 1948 and John F. Kennedy in 1960. Both gave speeches from the courthouse steps. The building was vacated in 1969 when county government offices were moved to the new Civic Center Complex. The next building up on this side is is the Furniture Building at 123 NW 4th St., formerly 100-106 Upper 4th St. Built in 1909, this building is now (since 1940) called the Court Building. Across the streeet from the courthouse is a bit of an optical illusion. The spire is NOT atop the crenelated tour,it is just beyond it. The spire is First German Methodist Episcopal Church at 202 NW 4th St., built in 1865, dedicated in 1867, with a name change to 4th St. Methodist Episcopal Church in 1917. Its congregation merged with another and moved to another location, so in 1937 that building became the courthouse annex. It was razed in 1973. The congregation itself dates back to at least 1842. The crenellated tower is the old jail and sheriff's residence at 208 NW 4th St., built in 1890 and modeled after Lichtenstein Castle. According to the Historic Evansville website, The building itself is designed to invoke fear in the observer. The Vanderburgh County Jail is also connected to the former Courthouse, which lies across the St., via an underground dungeon-like tunnel. During the time of the jail's use, the tunnel served as a passageway to transport prisoners to and from court. It served as a jail until 1969.The building has been restored and today houses attorneys offices.