The original Courthouse was located in Manitowoc Rapids in the year 1839. It was 24' x 30', one story frame construction and cost $650.00. It was destroyed by fire in 1852. In 1853, the county seat changed from Manitowoc Rapids to the Village of Manitowoc and county buildings were erected there with completion in 1857.
In 1861, five city lots were purchased for a new county courthouse, and an adjoining two lots were added in 1875 to provide for parking. The Courthouse erected on this property served until replaced in 1906 by the present Courthouse building. The cost to rebuild the Courthouse was approximately $238,000.
The Courthouse was designed by Manitowoc architect Christ H. Tegen. The Beaux Arts, Neo-Classical "Temple of Justice" originally supported a glass dome, permitting light to stream into the interior rotunda. The dome was sheethed with stainless steel in 1948 following a particularly severe hailstorm.
The Manitowoc County Courthouse was listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the Secretary of the Interior on April 16, 1981.
