The drive to Telluride was not as bad as I had feared.  While the road was winding, it was not the twisty, annoying, high mountain road crap I had come to loathe around Creede and Lake City.  However, I was slowed down on the way into town for the most unexpected reason.  The Fourth of … Continue reading 867. Telluride, San Miguel County (CO53) →

The drive in from Montrose was blessedly flat and simple: no windy roads, no hairpin curves, no cresting anything.  I never felt so happy for a simple drive before.  The courthouse was adequate, though not special.  There was the unfortunate issue of a tree covering up the name of the place, but otherwise no big … Continue reading 866. Delta, Delta County (CO52) →

Now that is a courthouse! It's also obviously the old courthouse. There is actually a more modern structure, a combined court building at another location in town. I came here because the county clerk is based behind this old courthouse, and got to see this beautiful old chonker. Yes, I know that it's not the … Continue reading 865. Montrose, Montrose County (CO51) →

It was too rainy when I arrived in the middle of the night, so I hit the courthouse first thing in the morning. Unfortunately, I wasn't impressed with it. Much like Creede, it was a fairly newly constructed courthouse that seemed a lot like a megachurch. It obviously did the job, but but it made … Continue reading 864. Gunnison, Gunnison County (CO50) →

Lake City made me mad from the jump.  First of all, I had to summit an 11,500 foot mountain to get to it in the first place through the Slumgullion Pass.  But I did make a quick stop at... ...North Clear Creek Falls. The intermittent rain no doubt helped make it more picturesque than it … Continue reading 863. Lake City, Hinsdale County (CO49) →

Unlike my confusion upon approaching the courthouse in Pagosa Springs, I know what the problem with this courthouse is.  It’s not that it’s bad, it’s just not good.  It’s basically a barndominium or like a prefab church or something.  I mean, don’t get me wrong, Creede is a small town so it’s not like they … Continue reading 862. Creede, Mineral County (CO48) →

Once I arrived in Pagosa Springs, I was stuck in a traffic slowdown. There were pre-Fourth celebrations afoot, so downtown was filled with pedestrian muggles. When I finally made it to the courthouse, I was confused as all get out. What the holy heck was going on with it? Parts of it had been closed? … Continue reading 861. Pagosa Springs, Archuleta County (CO47) →

Del Norte had another very western courthouse in a different way, combining the rough hewn look with classical revival. That seems in a contradiction, and it works well enough, but something is off about it for me. I like the rough hewn look and I like classical revival, but the combination of the two didn't … Continue reading 860. Del Norte, Rio Grande County (CO46) →

Future Arborists of America, attend!  The courthouse in San Luis was quite interesting with its belfry.  I couldn't recall seeing anything like it before in the southwest or adjacent areas.  However, there was a perfect line of trees planted in front of the courthouse.  Sure, they provide shade for the benches out front and probably … Continue reading 859. San Luis, Castillo County (CO45) →

Another truly western courthouse, emulating adobe and everything. I wondered where the choice was made for it. It's not a common stylistic thing in the courthouse world and I only think I've seen it a couple of times until now (if that), probably in New Mexico and Arizona. I actually wasn't sure what I was … Continue reading 858. Conejos, Conejos County (CO44) →