Courthouse Location
20 E. Main Street
Nashville, IN 47448
[contact information]

Courthouse Hours
Monday through Friday
8:00a.m. to 4:00p.m.

Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities
A wheelchair ramp exists behind the building just off of the sidewalk. There is elevator access inside the building.

Parking
Parking is available in the parking lot behind the courthouse.

Courthouse History
In a community known for its rustic charm and down-home Indiana ambiance, the Brown County Courthouse is as comfortable in its surroundings as a farmer in overalls. Even without fancy decorations or a soaring tower, the courthouse commands respect and dignity in its simplicity.

The current courthouse, constructed 1873-74 is the third on this site. The earliest log courthouse was built in 1837; it was replaced in 1853 by a brick structure destroyed by fire in 1873. The simple Greek Revival details of the 1874 building are said to reflect the styling of the old 1855 courthouse. The gable front construction and cornice returns provide just a hint of the Greek temples that inspired its design. The columns, typically associated with Greek Revival buildings, have here been replaced by simple brick pilasters. With a construction cost of just over $9000, Brown County received a building which has withstood time and changes.

Though unpretentious, the Brown County Courthouse is located on the popular Shelbyville Square plan. The surrounding streets intersect at the corners of the square, but the lack of expansive lawn, common with most squares, allows the courthouse to become an integral part of the streetscape sitting among utilitarian buildings both old and new. Its presence contributes significantly to the village charm that attracts scores of tourists to Nashville. The Brown County Courthouse was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Inside the courthouse, rehabilitation provided modern-day necessities such as air-conditioning, an elevator, and computer capability. Yet in the courtroom, the old hand-carved black walnut judge's bench still serves it original use.

History provided by the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana. Learn more about architectural styles found in many of Indiana's courthouses from the following publication by the Historic Landmarks Foundation: On the Street Where You Live: Be a Building Watcher! [Requires Acrobat Reader to view and print] Learn more about courthouse squares at the Courts in the Classroom website, provided by the Historic Landmarks Foundation.