Chase County Courthouse is the oldest operating courthouse in the state of Kansas! That tidbit of information would have flown right over my head, but I got the opportunity to tour this historic building, so over the course of the 30-or-so-minute tour, it all kind of sank in that this place is pretty special.
If you get the chance to take a tour of the courthouse, you should. Self-guided tours are available Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You'll get to see the old-timey jail upstairs, with its single cell that can accommodate one person in the pokey at a time. You'll also see the court room, which is still being used to this day. This courthouse has so much history, but is also still functioning as a modern-day courthouse and taking care of business throughout the year for the people of Chase County.
The building itself was completed in 1873, and looks distinctive, standing tall at the end of an otherwise modest street. Make sure to go up to the third floor and look out of the peephole window that faces downtown. You'll get a good view of the shops and buildings that make up this small town. read more