The 1724 Chester Courthouse was once the Courthouse for Chester and Delaware Counties and City Hall for Chester. Since the 1920s it has been open as a historic site. It is now owned by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) and leased by Delaware County. It is the oldest building in continuous public use in the country. Both PHMC and Delaware County have rehabilitated the building for America250 in 2026.
LATEST NEWS
- The Courthouse construction work is complete! The building was open for a Naturalization Ceremony and Superior Court Sessions in September and a Philadelphia Orchestra Quartet Concert in October. The Delaware County Parks and Recreation Department are facilitating the future use of the Courthouse. Learn more
- The Courthouse is open for the Reading of the Declaration on July 8 each year at 1 pm. All are welcome to see the completed rehabilitation of the Courthouse.
- BSS Construction completed the rehabilitation of the Courthouse, from plans made by J&M Preservation Studio. Zeller Preservation completed the updated National Register listing.
- On December 12, 2024 at 11 am, there was a Lafayette Trail Marker Dedication and a short celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Courthouse. It was held at the park opposite Chester City Hall at the corner of 4th Street and Avenue of the States, moving inside the Courthouse for the anniversary celebration. Watch the Lafayette Marker Dedication Ceremony and 300th Anniversary Celebration here and see photos here.
- On October 5, 2024, the County hosted Lafayette Day in Chester with boarded up windows but new LED lighting so the interior of the courtroom was not dark. See photos and learn more about the event here.
- If you have ideas for what to use the building for, let us know here. The County would love to see the building used by the public on a regular basis and now is the time to start planning for its future.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
In 2021, PHMC signed a lease agreement with Delaware County for the County to take over the programming and maintenance at the Courthouse. As part of the agreement, PHMC completed the following improvements:
- Repair/repaint first floor windows, doors, and shutters
- Repair/replace first floor HVAC system
- Upgrade first floor lights
- Repair roof leaks and seal roof to last longer
- Selective first floor interior painting/plastering
In 2023, Delaware County was awarded a National Park Service Grant for the Rehabilitation of the Courthouse. See press release here.
The grant covers the following improvements:
- Exterior stone repairs/ repointing
- Repair/repaint cupola and second floor windows, shutters, eaves
- Upgrade electric, fire, alarm systems
- Repair plumbing/electric on second floor
- Refinish wood floors
- Interior painting/plastering on both floors
In 2026, additional funds were provided by VisitDelco for America250.
The funds covered the following improvements:
- Additional stone repairs/repointing
- Second floor storm windows
- Attic ventilation
- All interior painting
- Kitchenette on second floor
PUBLIC USE OF THE COURTHOUSE
The Courthouse has the honor of being the oldest public building in continuous public use in the country. Apart from a few years in the 1780s between when Chester County moved the courthouse to West Chester and Delaware County was established, it has been in public ownership and use. Law Day, hosted by the Delaware County Bar Association, is 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 read at the Courthouse on July 8, 1776. 2024 marked the 300th anniversary of the Courthouse, but because there was no heat and no running water to the building, a small celebration was held on December 12, 2024. Watch the video here.
The Delaware County Planning Department is hoping for public input for programming at the Courthouse. 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). This can be used as a museum for Chester and/or the Courthouse, a larger meeting room, or anything else. Delaware County Parks and Recreation will manage rental permits for the building (free/low cost for community groups and non-profits to have meetings/programs). Let us know what you think here.
Questions about the 1724 Chester Courthouse? Contact the Planning Department at 610-891-5200 or Planning_Department@co.delaware.pa.us.
