98 steps. Not 100. I don't know why they missed this opportunity for a round number but I counted…read morethem going up and coming back down, getting the same. 98 steps. However, you can drive to the top where there is parking. If you do that, you'll miss the Jackson County Confederate Memorial that is midway on the stairs. The Historical Jackson County Courthouse is a 1913 Classical Revival structure that towers on a hill above and at the end of Sylva's main street. It has served here until 1994 when the new Justice Center opened a couple of miles away. It sat unused for several years until it was refreshed and restored, reopening in 2011 as the Jackson County Public Library complex that includes the Jackson County Historical Association, the Genealogical Society, and the Arts Council. Two stories and constructed of painted brick, it has a monumental portico at the front with large classical columns and is topped with a three-stage cupola above the central block. If you've been to Marshall NC, it does look a lot like the Madison County Courthouse. [Review 531 of 2026 - 4626 in North Carolina - 25713 overall]

All those stairs!!!! They just call to be climbed!! It's a 55 ft elevation gain…read more It's very pretty from the bottom and from the top of the stairs. Take a moment to notice the Mountain View's. It's just lovely. Don't want to climb those stairs? Don't worry you can get to the Library and Courthouse by car.

Buncombe County was formed in 1791 and named for Edward Buncombe, a Revolutionary War officer…read more Nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina, the county quickly became a cultural and political center, with Asheville as its seat and growing rapidly in the 1800s thanks to railroads, tourism, and the region's reputation for restorative mountain air. The Buncombe County Courthouse, completed in 1928, stands as a towering example of Beaux-Arts architecture with subtle Art Deco touches. Designed by Douglas Ellington (who is also responsible for the neighboring Asheville City Hall), the courthouse rises seventeen stories, making it the tallest county courthouse in North Carolina. Its limestone façade, classical ornamentation, and richly appointed interior ‐ with marble floors, coffered ceilings, and bronze fixtures ‐ reflect the civic optimism of Asheville's boom years, just before the Great Depression slowed further development. Beside the courthouse stands a three-tiered empty plinth. From 1905 until its removal in 2021, it held a monument to Confederate soldiers, taken down following a vote by county commissioners. The vacant pedestal now serves as a quiet marker of the region's evolving public memory. Asheville is a city of smart parking meters and parking decks. You won't find free parking here. [Review 1234 of 2025 - 4419 in North Carolina - 24786 overall]

Gandhi! "BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLD"! Well he sure wouldn't be very proud of…read morethis bull! Hang those heads in shame. The universe is watching! Was there for jury duty for a 1st degree murder case. Never have I ever seen anything more idiotic then this place. The worst judges! Judge Thornburg a real piece of work. The stupidest prosecutors. I felt sorry for the defendant actually. I was called onto the jury but excused after answering questions truthfully. So many of us were excused. They kept the most uneducated and ignorant people who they believed would convict in a heartbeat. If choosing the jury is like a circus then what must the TRIAL be like. The defendants atty hardly had a chance to ask any questions. The prosecutor was on stage and what a performance it was. It's a sad commentary! Thank God I'll never have to serve again. They tell you "it's the most important thing you can do" LOL! It's the least important thing you can do here in Asheville. I'm from Brooklyn NY and no one here would survive up North. Nothing but redneck hillbillies and that's the truth. By the way the prosecutor had a "NAPOLEON COMPLEX". Very short with red hair. A real jerk. Nothing he said made one bit of sense yet he mumbled on and on about COMMON SENSE which he had none. What a joke! Now I can go back to doing really important things like saving animals and this pitiful world we now live in. Little does this so called court realize that there is a higher court judging them. "THE UNIVERSAL COURT" Amen

The Jackson County Public Library sits inside the old courthouse at the top of the hill, and the…read moresetting alone makes it worth the visit. You can climb the 98 steps if you want the full Sylva experience but it is absolutely driveable and there is a proper parking lot right beside the building, which makes your visit a lot easier. Once inside, the space feels bright and open, with the kind of modern layout that still respects the bones of the historic structure. The windows give the place a calm, airy feel, and a few of the seating areas look out over the city of Sylva that makes you want to linger a little longer. There is plenty of room to spread out, racks of books arranged neatly and a mix of quiet corners and open tables depending on what you need. I was only here briefly and did not have a chance to test the wifi, but everything else about the library suggested a well maintained and thoughtfully run library. It is the kind of place that blends history and everyday usefulness without trying too hard, and it fills like a natural fit for the old historic courthouse rather than a forced reuse of the space. [Review 532 of 2026 - 4627 in North Carolina - 25714 overall]

Visiting from the city & needed to work on my laptop. What a great library! Take the elevator to…read morethe second floor . There were also plugs on the table which made it easy to charge devices.

**April 2025: Weekday Late Morning Visit**…read more My friend and I were visiting Dollywood and figured that we should stop by her hometown to checkout her statue. It's located outside in the town center. My friend and I parked in a plaza nearby and walked towards this downtown area. If you're in Sevierville you should definitely get your photos with Dolly here!

There a no shortage of love for Dolly Parton in Sevierville. They even have erected a bronze statue…read moreof Dolly on the Courthouse lawn. And with good reason. Dolly has invested a lot of money in Sevier County with several theme parks. Dolly was born not too far from Sevierville, in Pittman Center. I'm a big Dolly fan and have listened to her music for decades. I love the reading programs for kids that she has championed throughout the country. The bronze statue by Gatlinburg artist, Jim Gray, depicts a young Dolly holding her guitar with her big smile and curly hair sitting on a rock. The statue was dedicated in 1989. Dolly looks casual and approachable. There is limited free parking around the Courthouse.

I was in the court house yesterday, for jury duty. And must say, all the folks, I encountered were…read moreso friendly, and knowledgeable. I wandered around and was impressed with the amazing beauty of this historical building. Everytime I drive in Sevierville I see it towering over all the other buildings. It makes me grin for it is beautiful. It was build in 1896, and got on the historical registry in 1971. This magnificent structure was designed by noted architect Kenneth McDonald of Louisville, Kentucky. McDonald was known for his Beaux-Arts Classicism design. The building was constructed by C. W. Brown of Lenoir City, at a cost of $21,000.00. From its beginning, the new courthouse has been a symbol of civic pride. The courthouse is a three-story structure, measuring 85 feet by 70 feet. The foundation is made of limestone blocks, 24 to 30 inches thick. The exterior walls up to the main floor are of hand-shaped limestone. They were obtained from a local quarry and hauled to the courthouse site by horse drawn wagons. From the main floor up, the exterior walls are brick, made at local brick yards. The tower is the dominating feature of the Courthouse rising 75 feet above the building. It rises 130 feet from the ground and is made of wood columns 10 inches by 10 inches rising from wood trusses. Midway up the tower is a large Seth Thomas clock which cost $1,353.45. For years, the clock was wound manually but today it's electric and strikes at the top of every hour. The metal dome on top of the tower was made by George G. M. Nichols.

Sevier County is an incredible place to live and work. Support extensions throughout county…read moregovernment are easily accessible and the county mayors office is interactive and hosts numerous community events throughout the year.

The Greenville County Courthouse took two years to construct and was completed in 1918 and is in…read morethe Beaux-Arts style, a brick and concrete building with terra cotta trim. It was designed by P. Thornton Mayre who is known for the Atlanta Terminal Station (1905), St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Atlanta (1906), Birmingham Terminal Station (1909), the Randolph-Lucas House in Atlanta (1924) and the Fox Theatre in Atlanta (1929) as well as the Aladdin Theater in Cocoa Florida (1924). This building served as the primary court for the county and was the setting for the infamous Willie Earle trial, which gained international attention when 31 white men were acquitted for the murder of a black taxi driver. There is some limited street parking in front and a larger lot in the back. [Review 204 of 2025 - 1259 in South Carolina - 23768 overall]

A previous reviewer notes that the current courthouse was building was completed in 1918. I want to…read moreadd a correction since this not accurate. The current courthouse was built between 1949 and 1950 and was renovated in 1997 with the addition of a new judicial wing. The previous courthouse was completed in 1918. It was used until 1991 for the Family Court (the SC Family Court wasn't established until 1976). The Family Court later moved into an old movie theatre on University Ridge. In 2021 the Family Court was moved to a facilty on Halton Road.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD…read more The Union County Historical Society is housed in the local historic court house building which was built in 1899. My absolute favorite part of this building was the top floor which housed the courtroom. I felt as if I was stepping into a scene from "To kill A Mockingbird" because this room reminded me of the courtroom scene from the movie. It was so cool, that words cannot express how it felt to be transported back in time. I experienced this room from every possible position, the audience, the jury, the defendant, the jury and even the Judge's chair. When you yell guilty!, there is a nice echo! Love it! This courthouse was super simple, besides the main room there were two smaller rooms used for jury deliberations and as the judge's chamber. This space is now used for Friday night concerts where you can hear Bluegrass, gospel and other forms of music. On the lower level is the main office and several rooms that reflect the towns history. The specific rooms reflect sports, religion, education, local politics, and military history. You will also find some interesting artifacts in the main hallway. I was surprised that there wasn't any information on the civil war just later wars. You must step outside and view the front of this building from a distance as it is truly breathtaking. I am so glad that a group of passionate citizens decided to fight the planned destruction of this building and its contents. It was absolutely worth being saved and is now the pride of this community. This courthouse is an absolute must see on your visit to the area!.

The lady was rude to me for no good reason so I don't recommend going to that location. I never…read morewill again.. If a person works with the public I believe you should carry yourself with kindness. You have no idea what the person you got a attitude with is going through

I have used this location for their drive thru license renewal. It's pretty hidden , and there…read moreisn't even a sign that's says to take the road, but it's situated between the the court house buildings. The road just looks like a walking path to the back, so it can be misleading. Beats going to East town mall or Farragut to wait in line ! You pull in and it lets you off on Gay st.

Early on a Saturday afternoon, the Cherokee County Courthouse in Murphy was all buttoned up and…read moresecured, which somehow made it even more striking as I walked the quiet square and took in that big presence that really dominates the block. The Classical Revival design hits you right away with those tall columns and the kind of symmetry that feels like it was built to impress. The 1927 construction date shows in all the best ways with that sturdy early 20th century confidence. With no one around, it was easy to stroll the perimeter and just let the building show off in the afternoon light. Cherokee County was formed in 1839 and Murphy has been the county seat from the start. When you see how this courthouse anchors the town, you get why they never moved it. Even locked up, it feels like a place that has seen a lot of local history roll right past its steps. The combination of its scale, the stonework and the mountain backdrop gives it a kind of quiet authority that sneaks up on you. It is impressive and imposing in the best way, and it makes for a surprisingly satisfying stop when you are wandering around town on a slow Saturday. [Review 514 of 2026 - 4609 in North Carolina - 25696 overall]

After jumping through all the hoops to find what I was looking for, paying online for the info,…read morenever received the report.