This photo shows only the very top of the Clayton County Courthouse in Elkader, Iowa on a lovely autumn afternoon. As I prepared the photo for this post and read a little about the building, I soon realized that Elkader was not always the county seat. Clayton County was formed in 1837 after splitting from neighboring Dubuque County, and the first courthouse was built in 1840 in Prairie La Porte, which, according to the online source, is now Guttenberg. In 1844 another courthouse was built in Jacksonville, which is now Garnavillo, and later, in 1867, construction started on the building in Elkader. As you might expect, this structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is known for some of its architectural features, including the cupola that includes a 45-foot clock tower.
So, if you need a reason to get out of the house, take a little drive and see it for yourself -- I think you will also enjoy some of the unique downtown businesses.
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