The first courthouse in Alpena County was located at 150 East Chisholm Street, now the site of the I.O.O.F.

[3] The building was destroyed by a fire on December 12, 1870, and a replacement was built in 1881 at 720 W Chisholm Street.

[7][8] According to Kuni, it was the first monolithic poured building constructed during the winter in a cold climate.

[9] The Art Deco building, dubbed "Fort Alpena" by a local writer, is embellished by architectural sculpture, including an eagle perched atop the clock on the main facade and figures of Justice and Law as well as "fascia designs show(ing) images of the county's lumbering, shipbuilding, farming, fishing and recreational industries.

This article about a property in Michigan on the National Register of Historic Places is a stub.