The Reno County Courthouse in Hutchinson is a striking six-story Art Deco building designed by William Earl Hulse and completed in 1930. It replaced the older Second Empire courthouse that once stood here. Reno County was formed in 1867 and named for General Jesse L. Reno, a Union officer killed at South Mountain during the Civil War. Hutchinson has been the county seat from the beginning, so this building carries a long stretch of government history! I happened to arrive during business hours, which is unusual for my travel, and that gave me the chance to walk around and photograph the public areas without any issue. Other than a magnetometer operated by a few county deputies, the building was open and accessible. The Art Deco touches around the ground and second floor are a real delight! The courthouse houses the County District Court of the 27th Judicial District, and while no single landmark case is tied to it, it has handled the steady flow of civil and criminal matters that shape a county over generations. The interior still shows off its early Deco detailing, especially in the original courtroom spaces, and the tall brick and limestone exterior gives it a distinctive presence in downtown Hutchinson. It's a solid stop if you enjoy Kansas courthouse architecture, and visiting during active hours made it even more interesting. [Review 758 of 2026 - 105 in Kansas - 25939 overall] read more

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