Photo courtesy of the Baker-Barber Collection

1841-1842 (circa) - First permanent courthouse built for $8,000 at Aspen and Chestnut street, which later became First and Second avenues, next to the site of the present courthouse

1904 - Contract for new courthouse awarded to local builder W.F. Edwards; first courthouse torn down. Richard Sharp Smith, an architect from Asheville, drew the design for the new courthouse.

July 1905 - Edwards hands over keys for new courthouse to Henderson County Commissioners. Courthouse sits on west side of Main Street between First and Second avenues. It cost $38,000, but the county withheld $500 until the first cold day to test the heating system

1915 - St. John Hotel on Main Street burns down, scorching courthouse woodwork and dome. Edwards repairs the damage.

July 1925 - Brick jail built behind the courthouse near Church Street for $75,000.

1943 - Courthouse condemned, Superior Court moved to City Hall. Repairs estimated at $25,000. Repairs completed in 1944 and court returns.

1952 - Courthouse expanded.

1956, commissioners approve courthouse addition for register of deeds, sheriff's office and Board of Elections

1972 - State court system reorganized and addition to courthouse needed at a cost of $40,000. County commissioners move out.

1982 - Repairs to shore up floors and inner supports completed.

November 1991 - A reinforced dome with a gold-colored fiberglass coating is dedicated

1994 - Sheriff's office moves out of the courthouse.

1995 - New courthouse built for $7.6 million, old courthouse closed.

1999 - Henderson County Commissioners appoint a committee to look at reusing the courthouse. The committee suggested four options, including adding a parking garage and demolishing the old jail, which would be replaced with a new one in 2001. The cost was estimated at $7.5 million

2001 - Commissioners vote to move forward with renovations of the courthouse, including demolition of the jail, but loss of state money and other budget shortfalls scuttled the plans by 2002.

2003 - Commissioners appoint a 21-member committee to recommend a use for the historic structure and how to pay for its renovation

2003-04 - County Commissioners vote to make use of Historic Courthouse as a working government building and heritage museum

2005 - Centennial Celebration of Historic Courthouse

The renovated Henderson County Historic Courthouse houses county offices, including commissioners' offices and meeting rooms, and the Henderson County Heritage Museum.