On October 23rd, the bells of the Wise County Courthouse rang out for the first time in years as approximately 700 residents and visitors gathered to celebrate the rededication of the fully restored 1896 courthouse.

The event marked the conclusion of a two-year, $8.4 million restoration project funded through the Texas Historical Commission’s Historic Courthouse Preservation Program. The effort returned the Romanesque Revival-style building to its original design while integrating modern infrastructure, including energy-efficient HVAC systems, fire suppression, and updated information technology.

President Donald Trump issued a proclamation recognizing the restoration, and Former First Lady Laura Bush shared a personal message highlighting the courthouse’s significance to Texas heritage.

Texas Historical Commission Vice Chair Garrett Donnelly expressed appreciation for legislative support, stating, “We are truly grateful to the Texas legislature for the support they give us in this important work. The THC is excited to deploy these investments in preserving our heritage while strengthening local economies across the state.”

Speakers at the ceremony included Wise County Judge J.D. Clark, Texas Senator Tan Parker, Representative Andy Hopper, Alan Odom of Premier Commercial Group, architect Karl Komatsu of Komatsu Architecture, and Vice Chair Donnelly.

Originally designed by noted architect J. Riely Gordon, the courthouse is distinguished by its pink granite walls, terra cotta accents, and red clay tile roof. Restoration efforts included recreating the courtroom balcony removed in the 1960s and reopening the central atrium by removing an elevator that had enclosed the cast iron staircase.

During construction, crews uncovered intact slate roofing beneath later terra cotta tiles, confirming local oral history about the building’s original materials. The new slate roof now matches the original design.

The courthouse remains a central feature of Decatur’s downtown, which is part of the national Main Street economic development program.

Since its inception in 1999, the Texas Historical Commission’s Historic Courthouse Preservation Program has supported the restoration of more than 80 historic county courthouses across the state, emphasizing authenticity while ensuring modern functionality.