Michigan's oldest working courthouse

The date high on the front of Lapeer’s old courthouse can fool you. It says 1839, but that marks the county’s first courthouse. The white wooden building on Courthouse Square went up in 1845 and 1846, and the county bought it in 1853. Alvin N. Hart, an early settler who platted the village and later served in the state Legislature, built it in the Greek Revival style.

Lapeer County calls it the oldest operating courthouse in Michigan that still serves its original purpose. That wording matters: this is not just an old government building kept behind glass. The courthouse remains part of county life. It is also available for weddings and special events, with its courtroom, lawn, and front steps serving as the backdrop.

If you are downtown, it is an easy landmark to understand at a glance. The tall columns and little tower look formal, but the building is still used rather than frozen in time. Check with the county before visiting for an event or trying to see the interior.