The state’s inventory counts five courthouses in Tyler
The Texas Historical Commission’s courthouse inventory lists five Smith County courthouses in Tyler.
They are a log cabin of 1846, a log courthouse of 1848 about 18 by 18 feet, an 1852 Second Empire courthouse, a Classical Revival courthouse of 1910 by Charles Henry Page Jr., and a 1955 Modern-style courthouse by Thomas Jameson.
The 1852 record names Eugene Thomas Heiner as architect but says he “probably did the 1876 remodel.”
Note
The Handbook of Texas gives other years: 1847 for the log courthouse in the center of the square, 1909 for the three-story courthouse and 1954 for the present one.
Sources
- Texas Historical Commission Atlas: Smith County Courthouse (1846) (Atlas 4302002560)atlas.thc.texas.gov
Smith County Courthouse (1846)
vernacular, log cabin (state appointed commissioners)
- Texas Historical Commission Atlas: Smith County Courthouse (1848) (Atlas 4302002561)atlas.thc.texas.gov
vernacular, log cabin (co. commissioners), approx 18' x 18'; hand-hewn logs and mud-filled chinks (Welch)
- Texas Historical Commission Atlas: Smith County Courthouse (1852) (Atlas 4302002632)atlas.thc.texas.gov
Constructed 1852 Architect Eugene Thomas Heiner Contractor E. L. Clay & W. W. Kidd Style Second Empire
- Texas Historical Commission Atlas: Smith County Courthouse (1910) (Atlas 4302002633)atlas.thc.texas.gov
Constructed 1910 Architect Charles Henry Page Jr. Contractor Style Classical Revival
- Texas Historical Commission Atlas: Smith County Courthouse (1955) (Atlas 4302000240)atlas.thc.texas.gov
Constructed 1955 Architect Thomas Jameson Contractor Style Modern Style
Checked October 15, 2026. How the cards are filed