7 Best Courthouse Squares On The Gulf Coast

All sorts of Gulf Coast towns have built their community around their courthouse square. Some of these courthouse squares hold older masonry and tall windows that survived shifting eras. Others show the wear and tear from storms that changed the coastline. What stays consistent is the way each courthouse sits near everyday life. Maybe you will wander off the courtyard grass and end up in a quirky little museum, or you could catch sight of a theater as you walk toward the shore. Each of these courthouse squares is a unique way to experience the culture of the coast. Read on to find out about seven of the best courthouse squares alongside the Gulf Coast.

Inverness, Florida

Back in 1912, the Old Citrus County Courthouse was built right in the middle of this Florida town's core. With its cupola and early-1900s design details, it has a bold, unforgettable look. The building gained attention when a film crew used it for the courtroom scenes in the Elvis Presley movie “Follow That Dream.” The current modern courthouse is only a brief stroll from this classic structure, linking the town’s legal past to its present.

The town has a collection of things to do, not far from the square. The Valerie Theatre sits across from the old courthouse and hosts films along with performances. Its neon sign gives the square a focal point after dark. Visitors often walk or bike the path to the Depot District, and the train station building sits by the lake, a memory of the rail traffic that drove the town's early growth. Feel like a hike? Not far away, the Withlacoochee State Trail kicks off and hands travelers a long journey winding through woods and wetlands.

Anahuac, Texas

Right in the middle of Anahuac, the Chambers County Courthouse anchors the town and has molded its design for years. Its limestone walls rise high above a simple patchwork of streets, with both Trinity Bay and Lake Anahuac easily accessible. The courthouse lawn is where early public gatherings and legal hearings in Anahuac took place, and nowadays, there is a handy plaque next to the lawn that helps explain the area's history.

The Thomas Jefferson Chambers House stands nearby and helps place the historical importance of the area and region. The home belonged to the county’s namesake and holds stories that reach back to the earliest days of settlement. Fort Anahuac Park sits just south of downtown, perched on a bluff with a great view of where the Trinity River empties into the bay. Also, if you are into history, you can check out the Turtle Bayou Resolutions site next, where you can get a feel for how the area helped shape Texas’s push for independence.

Port St. Joe, Florida

Back in 1965, Port St. Joe's courthouse was turned into the main centre of governing when the county seat was moved here. The Gulf County Courthouse has this large, spacious front path heading to a wide entrance, marked off by sharp, bold lines. That style reflects the period when the region sought sturdier public buildings suited to a hurricane-prone coast. Visitors who want a sense of the town’s deeper story often begin at the Constitution Convention Museum State Park.

The small exhibits describe the early settlement of St. Joseph and the work that took place during the 1838 convention. George Core Park sits close to the bay, and the keeper’s house there constantly grabs the attention of people moving through the marina area. You can experience a different perspective of the coastline at the St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve south of town, a spot where the marsh sections slowly change into tidal mudflats and calm pools.

Port Lavaca, Texas

Not far off from Lavaca Bay, the current Calhoun County Courthouse is one in a long line. Over the years, the county has used a variety of official courthouses. Its current version, sitting inside Port Lavaca, was built with a modern design back in 1959, replacing a 19th-century two-floor courthouse. While the courthouse is a must-see, there are lots of other things to do in town.

The Calhoun County Museum stands close enough for a quick walk and holds artifacts tied to ranching families and the hurricanes that shaped local history. A bit farther down the shoreline, Bayfront Peninsula Park features a long fishing pier, where water stretches out on both sides. Keep walking past the park, and you can reach Lighthouse Beach. The sandy stretch is a great place where you can soak in the sweeping marsh views that shape the bay’s borders.

Pascagoula, Mississippi

In this town, you can find the Jackson County Courthouse standing as the civic hub, shaped by the slick architectural style from 1949. Its big windows and wide steps have that old-school Mississippi feel typical of the mid-century era. Court days keep the block active, and the streets around it form a tight grid that lets the building stand out without overwhelming the surrounding buildings. Several historic sites are close by, too. The LaPointe-Krebs House, formally known as the Old Spanish Fort, marks its place as one of the Gulf Coast’s oldest buildings and features a modest museum by Krebs Lake.

Also, the old Pascagoula Station is another landmark to see, located not far from Pascagoula Street, drawing the eye with its stretched-out roofline and some carefully detailed brickwork from the early 20th century. Scranton’s Restaurant, set in a restored firehouse downtown, adds local seafood and a sense of continuity with the town’s working waterfront. Not far from the restaurant, the Round Island Lighthouse lies near Beach Boulevard, with more than a century of coastal navigation, rebuilt with original brick after storms.

Houma, Louisiana

This town's courthouse has been a part of its downtown soul for decades. The Terrebonne Parish Courthouse, with its Art Deco design, sits right off Main Street with a nice, spacious green space on its grounds. A short walk from here will get you to the Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum, with shrimping gear and wooden boat displays. For a closer look at the area’s cultural history, Southdown Plantation House is a 5-minute drive away, featuring a pink exterior and a long gallery. The museum rooms highlight sugarcane production and family stories tied to the property.

When it is time for lunch, people in town almost always send anyone visiting straight to Big Mike’s BBQ Smokehouse over on Barrow Street to dine on ribs and brisket. If you crave seafood platters, Abear’s Café is a great pick. Plus, Lafayette Woods Park brings a nice helping of green space, offering ballfields and a stretch of open land that youth leagues and weekend groups often use.

Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

Much of Bay St. Louis took shape around the courthouse, built close to the nearby waterfront. Back in 1911, the Hancock County Courthouse got its unique look when builders went for a striking row of columns rising over a brick walkway. A little farther into town, inside the old L&N Train Depot, you will find the Alice Moseley Folk Art Museum displaying Moseley’s art. The depot still has its original waiting areas and details, and helps you picture what hopping on those early regional trains was like.

You will want to swing over to the Beach Boulevard Historic District, right next to the Mississippi Sound, where you will spot a mix of buildings stretching back centuries. Most people wrap up their evening at the Bay St. Louis Municipal Harbor, since the path beside the breakwater hands out a gorgeous open look at the rolling coastal surf.

Courthouse squares like these ones on the Gulf Coast put you right in the heart of the town’s core. The buildings snuggle up next to local theaters or quaint museums, and that blend allows you to appreciate both local history and heritage. If you want a trip built on real history and easy walks through coastal communities, pick one of these courthouse squares and start planning your visit now!