Transcript The Architecture of The Old Bloomington Courthouse

The Architecture of The Old
Bloomington Courthouse and
The Parthenon
Sophia Sutter 8B
History of The Old Bloomington Courthouse
The 3rd courthouse was built in 1868 by the architect Cochrane and the French
designer Piquenard. On June 19,1900, there was a great fire of Bloomington most of
the buildings went down in flames but the courthouse was only partially damaged.
On June 20,1900 the County appointed a special committee to rebuild the
Courthouse. Reeves and Baile were appointed to the special committee and also built
the current Bloomington High School in 1895. Reeves and Baile rebuilt the courthouse
by replacing most of the building but also fixing it up. They finished the 4th
courthouse in 1903 and is still remaining today.
History of The Parthenon
The Parthenon was built in 448 B.C. by the architects Iktinos and Callicrates. They
were the two main architects of the Athenian Acropolis. There also was the designer
Pericles who was the leader of all the buildings on the Acropolis.
When the Athenians were still building the Parthenon the Persians burned the
temple. Sadly only half of the temple still stands even after the Persians and all of
this time sitting on the Athenian Acropolis after 2461 years.
Similarities
Both have pediments
above columns. A
pediment is the stone
artwork and figures
carved in the stone.
Handcrafted by their
own city workers and
stone makers. The
stone was made by
hand and every detail.
Both have columns
Left is the
Corinthian
Columns.
Right is
the Doric
Columns.
Similarities
Classical design
Represents power and democracy
because a courthouse is used “by the
people” and that defines democracy.
Also democracy was invented and used
in ancient Greek society.
The courthouse was the
center of democracy and
the judiciary system while
the Greeks used the
Parthenon as a center of
religion making both of
these buildings very
important to their people
and cities.
The third courthouse had
a fire in 1868 and the
fourth courthouse was
……………………..
rebuilt as part of it while
the Persians attempted to
burn down the Parthenon.
Both buildings are a
large part of their cities
history. The courthouse
was a main piece of the
judicial system and it is
now a museum to
remind us of
Bloomington’s history.
The Parthenon still
draws thousands of
tourists each year to
celebrate it’s place in
Greek culture.
Differences
The courthouse was built in
1903 A.D. by Reeves and
Baile in Bloomington,
Illinois in the United Stated
of America making it only
110 years old. The
Parthenon was built in 448
B.C. in Athens, Greece by
Iktinos and Callicrates
making it 2461 years old.
Differences
The courthouse uses NeoClassical architecture that was
popular circa 1750 A.D. -1850
A.D. with Corinthian Order
Columns. It uses acanthus leaves
to decorate the capital of the
column.
The Parthenon uses Greek
architecture that was used circa
1500 B.C. – 350 B.C. with Doric
Order Columns. These columns
are made up of 2 basic pieces. It
is the oldest of the three types of
Order Columns.
Differences
The Parthenon just
represented democracy. It
did not practice
democracy. The main
purpose was to practice
religion. While the
Courthouse actually
practiced the working
democratic system.
The courthouse
stood for
Justice and all
she
represented
while the
Parthenon
honored
Athena,
goddess of war
and wisdom.
Summary
This has shown the differences and similarities of 2 buildings that have
nothing to do with each other, were built on two different continents, were
built in two different millennia, and two different cultures. One building
that was built in 448 B.C. and is so similar to a building that was built in
1903. Both buildings are still standing today after getting partially burned
to the ground and still be standing in 2013. This knowledge can lead to
building new buildings with the same influence. These influences help to
keep history alive. Here I have shown the people how exciting architecture
is and the history of these two very interesting and beautiful building can
be sustained after all these years siting in the center of these two amazing
and historic cities.
Sources
•
•
•
•
“The Old Mclean County Courthouse” by Greg Koos
Bloomington Courthouse Museum: archivist, George
Wikipedia
Google images.