Yoakum County Courthouse
Plains, TexasBuilt in 1949 in Moderne Style architectual style by architect Wyatt C. Hedrick.
Three story brick courthouse. A taller central portion is flanked by two symetrical and shorter wings. Small penthouses are located on top of each wing. The major decorative element is the door surround which is two stories tall and has a projecting, ornamental keystone. Today the large metal windows of the central bay have been unsympathetically covered over.
Current status: Active Courthouse
The Texas Historical Commission's (THC) nationally recognized and award-winning Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program (THCPP) has turned around the trend of disrepair and begun restoring these treasured historic landmarks. Texas has more historic courthouses than any other state. Today more than 240 courthouses still stand that are least 50 years old. About 80 were built before the turn of the 20th century. By the end of that century, most of these structures were significantly deteriorated due to inadequate maintenance, insensitive modifications or weather related damage. The Texas Historical Commission (THC) documented the condition of 50 of the state’s oldest courthouses in the late 1990s and determined that counties lacked the resources to preserve the buildings for future generations.
Texas is home to the world's largest bat colony. The Bracken Bat Cave, near San Antonio, is home to millions of Mexican free-tailed bats.