Located at 125 W. New York Avenue in DeLand, the Historic Courthouse has stood as a beacon of civic pride and architectural distinction since its completion in 1929. Designed by W.D. Harper & Co. in the Neoclassical style, the building features hallmark elements of the period, including fluted Corinthian columns, a copper-clad dome, and a dramatic stained-glass rotunda—all expressing the grandeur and dignity of public service.

This building was the third courthouse built in the City of DeLand, underscoring its longstanding role as the county seat of Volusia County, which moved from Enterprise in 1888 after a contentious election. Enterprise originally dominated the county as a steamboat hub when the St. Johns River was the highway for travelers from the North. When rail traffic replaced it, the City of DeLand grew, and its leaders worked to move the county seat. To persuade voters, Henry A. DeLand offered to donate a parcel on which to build a courthouse, and he, John B. Stetson, and DeLand Mayor Fred S. Goodrich pledged a $15,000 bond to the County Commissioners which meant the new courthouse could be built free of cost to the county, The city of DeLand won the election, and the courthouse was finished in 1889.

It was replaced in 1894 by another courthouse, which was demolished in the 1920’s to make room for its successor, the Neoclassical structure we know today. It housed county judicial and administrative functions, serving as the center of legal proceedings for over 70 years, until it closed in 2001. It was renovated and repurposed in 2005 to accommodate county offices and public cultural uses.

A central feature of the building is its historic second-floor courtroom, which seated up to 200 people and held trials from 1929 to 2002. On either side of the courtroom are two balconies, originally designated as segregated seating areas during the Jim Crow era.

This is also where Mary Stewart Howarth-Hewitt made history as the first woman to graduate from Stetson College of Law and the first woman registered with the Florida Supreme Court, marking a pivotal advancement for women in the legal profession.

Today, the courthouse doubles as a cultural destination, housing 27 commissioned works of public art by six Florida-based artists:

• Barbara Aleene Edwards of Tallahassee, photography
• Ann Koziell of DeLand, watercolor and oil painting
• Sharon Fithian of DeLand, mixed media
• Linda Relis of Port St. Lucie, oil painting
• Anna Tomczak of Lake Helen, mixed media photographic assemblage
• Walter Hnatysh of West Palm Beach, painting.

Their artworks celebrate our area’s natural environment, diverse communities, and shared heritage, bringing new life and meaning to the historic structure. Now part of the Downtown DeLand National Historic District, the DeLand Historic Courthouse remains one of the city’s most enduring and iconic landmarks—honoring its legacy while continuing to serve and inspire the community.

It is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors are welcome to explore the main lobby, rotunda, and public art displays. Guided tours are available by calling the Museum of Florida Art at 386-734-4371.

Volusia County Historic Courthouse - Indiana Avenue entrance. Photo: www.volusia.org. 

Volusia County Courthouse 1937. Photo: Sam J. Rodes Postcard Collection. Florida Memory

Volusia County Courthouse c.1929. Photo:  Dreggors Collection in the WVHS archives.