The 1724 Chester Courthouse

The 1724 Chester Courthouse was once the Courthouse for Chester and Delaware Counties and the City Hall for the city of Chester. The Courthouse carries the honor of being the oldest public building in continuous public use in the country, and since the 1920s, it has been open as a historic site. The Courthouse is now owned by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) and leased by Delaware County.

Law Day, hosted by the Delaware County Bar Association, takes place in the building on the first Friday in May each year. The Chester Historical Preservation Committee and Friends of the 1724 Chester Courthouse host the Reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8 each year in honor of when it was first read at the Courthouse on July 8, 1776.

The Delaware County Parks & Recreation Department coordinates programming at the Courthouse and manages building rental permits with local non-profit organizations, historical societies, and community partners.  The first floor is a courtroom which can hold audiences for mock trials, speeches, lectures, small performances, etc. The second floor has two restrooms (not ADA accessible), a room for meetings, and a large room (former Grand Jury Room). For more information about the facility, please contact the Delaware County Parks & Recreation Department at DelcoParks@co.delaware.pa.us. 

Click to watch a video of the Lafayette Trail marker dedication.
Click to read about the building rehabilitation project, which was completed in 2026.