Opera House

Knox County’s second courthouse was constructed in 1839, and opened in 1840. It was designed by John Mandeville, who was merely 22 when he drew up the plans. The contractors were Alvah Wheeler and Zelotes Cooley, and the total cost was $15,450.

When the county seat was moved to Galesburg in 1873, the city took over the facility and extensively remodeled it. While the ground floor became city offices and the east side an engine house for the fire department, the second floor was remodeled into one large space for use as a public hall. An iron staircase was added to the front to allow the interior staircase to be removed.

The new opera house was used for banquets, public events, and theatre. By no later than 1914, movies began to be shown there. With many large windows, the space was not well suited, nor was it terribly large, and by 1926 it does not appear in listings.

By about 1950, the building was in serious disrepair, and extensive historical restoration was begun on the interior. The upstairs was returned much closer to its original configuration with a courtroom and some offices. The building was used as a museum, but a new building was constructed in 2009.

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