Before relocating to their own building, the Supreme Court of Florida met from 1903 until 1913 in this Chamber located in the old Florida Capitol. The restored Chamber includes many original furnishings, one of which is the twenty-four foot long Supreme Court bench shown in the first picture. It was made of golden oak at a cost of $350 in 1902. Using original furniture, this room was restored based on a 1911 photograph. The current Supreme Court of Florida is housed in a separate building right across the street from the new Capitol and I previously posted a picture of it here.
14 comments:
In the U.S. Capitol they have restored the original Supreme Court Chamber to the way it appeared from roughly 1810 to 1865. It is my favorite room in the Capitol.
The Arizona appellate and Supreme Courts had their courtrooms in the State Capitol until they built a Court building for them across the plaza from the State Capitol, but that did not occur until the 1980's, as Arizona did not become a State until 1912.
An elegant but quite simple room considered its importance. It is so different from our pompous courthouses...
Look at the detail on that bench -- for $350! Amazing. Nowadays, a much less handsome piece would be purchased for 100 times as much, without the detail. (sigh) Lovely pics.
The restoration is beautiful! What a great job "they" did. And that Supreme Court bench is very special.
Thanks for sharing these!
Those chairs don't look very cozy.
Those chairs had to be uncomfortable if sitting through a long case. They are the same as the cafeteria chairs in my school when I was a child.
All of the wood is quite pretty, isn't it. It's not overly ostentatious, either, considering it is the highest court in the state.
I am enjoying your tour of the court house. :)
6 judges only? Lots of 3-3 ties I bet.
It has a surprisingly modern feel to it despite the use of some of the original pieces and fixtures. Its simplicity is such a delightful change from so many ornate Supreme Court courtrooms. I wonder what the Judges' chambers look like? I, too, am surprised at six judges!
I ws thinking the same thing Lois, that amazing bench made of oak for $350, how prices change!! Very nicely ordered space.
That's a nice room with the period furniture and all.
I bet it is air conditioned now. I bet they didn't even meet in the summers way back when.
What a lovely, lovely building and the interior are so beautiful.... Very nice pictures you show us. Have a lovely evening or day that is for you
They did a wonderful job with restoration! I always love the good old wooden furniture. Fantastic pictures!
Cruise Pictures
I have seen several supreme court rooms around the country, and this one is among the more modest. I plan to show the Connecticut Supreme Court some day . . . it is surprisingly modest, too.
Some fine furniture here.
Post a Comment