Facts

📍Region: Prairies and Lakes / City: Waxahachie

🗓️ Year Built: 1897

🧑‍🎨 Architect: James Riely Gordon

🏛️ Architectural Style: Romanesque Revival

💎 Unique Details: Adorning the courthouse are 21 stone faces, ranging from serene to grotesque. These were crafted by German stonemasons, adding a layer of mystery and artistry to the building. One tale suggests that a stonemason named Harry Herley carved the face of a local woman, Mabel Frame, who allegedly spurned his affections. Some believe the more distorted faces represent his feelings of rejection.

Why See It?

Constructed during a period when Waxahachie was among Texas’s wealthiest cities, the courthouse reflects the ambition and economic vitality of the era. The structure features a blend of Texas pink granite from Burnet County, gray granite, and Pecos red sandstone, creating a rich tapestry of colors and textures.

Nearby Highlights

Downtown Waxahachie Murals – Embark on a self-guided mural walking tour and experience the creativity of Downtown Waxahachie.

Photo Gallery

Intricate stone capital with detailed carvings of a face, star, and floral patterns, showcasing ancient architectural craftsmanship in warm sandstone.
Intricate stone carving of a human face with floral and vine motifs on a decorative architectural column detail.
Intricate stone-carved architectural details of the Kris Cross The Globe at a historic building, showcasing expressive faces and elaborate patterns in sandstone.
Beautiful historic courthouse building with red brick facade, intricate architectural details, and a clock tower, set against a clear blue sky and surrounded by leafless trees.
Victorian-style courthouse in San Antonio, Texas, surrounded by trees, with a flagpole and street signs in the foreground. An iconic historic building representing local government and architecture.
Statue of Richard Ellis in front of historic Texas courthouse, showcasing American history, architecture, and cultural landmarks, part of Kris Cross The Globe travel adventures.
Richard Ellis Monument – Foundational Figure in the Fight for Texas Independence

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