The 1897 Richardsonian Romanesque building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 for its state-level significance in the themes of architecture and politics/government.

[3] The Waseca County Courthouse is a two-story building of Kasota limestone and buff-colored brick, with a large bell- and clock-tower.

The interior is decorated with wainscoting, oak woodwork, tiled fireplaces, etched glass, paneled doors, and marble flooring.

A decade later, however, the Winona and St. Peter Railroad opted to route their tracks four miles (6.4 km) north of Wilton through the unassuming town of Waseca.

The proposal passed and the county's records and courthouse furniture were moved that very night to a new facility in Waseca, which opened for business the following day.