[3] Therefore, the county built a red brick building to house its records and offices.

It is possible that this building was already under construction as there are records of expenditures for brick, lumber, lime, ironwork, and architectural fees dating back to 1839.

The United States Congress had authorized the use of Washington Square for the new courthouse, but the choice was made to locate it on the site of the old one.

County officials chose local architect Fridolin Heer, designer of Sacred Heart Church and several other notable buildings in the city.

The Dubuque County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

[5] Upon completion, 12 classic statues of laminated pewter adorned the roof, however only six remain.

[7] The interior features the shaft of the tower that terminates on the fourth floor with a dome of stained glass.