Macoupin County Courthouse

Designed by famed architect E.E. Meyers in 1867, the building began as a $50,000 project supported by bonds and taxes. Through a series of political and social scandals the courthouse construction was halted in 1870 with a total cost of $1.3 million (1870 dollars) and at the time was the second largest courthouse (the one in New York was the largest) in the U.S. The 3rd floor courtroom was never completed and the planned ornamental statues were never commissioned. It took the county 40 years to pay off the debt and inspired the nickname "The Million Dollar Courthouse." It is recognized as the most magnificent courthouses in Illinois.