In the early part of the 20th century, Denver served as both the state capital and the Arapahoe County seat. An amendment to the Colorado Constitution creating a new City and County of Denver was passed by Colorado voters in 1902. This left Arapahoe County without a permanent county seat, pitting rivals Littleton and Englewood in an election to determine the new designation.
The two cities campaigned vigorously for two years while county officials shared the city office space in the two-story, frame town hall that stood at 2450 West Main Street (future site of the J. J. B. Benedict designed Town Hall). Promotions included a free barbecue and potato roast complete with dancing and horse racing. When the votes were cast on November 8, 1904, Littleton was chosen as the new county seat receiving 1,310 votes to Englewood's 829.
Despite local merchant insistence that the new courthouse be built on Main Street, the county commissioners chose this site east of town with a commanding view down Main Street toward Mount Evans. English-trained architect John J. Huddart, "one of Denver's most talented nineteenth-century architects," was chosen to design the new courthouse.
The courthouse sits on a raised basement, a technique used to allow additional natural light into the basement as well as emphasize the first floor
entry. The curvilinear dormer parapets give the building its Mission Revival look. The courthouse's overhanging eaves have stone support brackets at each corner with a plain frieze between vent windows.
The cornerstone was placed at a community celebration on August 24, 1907 by Littleton's Weston Masonic Lodge. Speakers included the Colorado Masonic Grand Master Senator Henry Teller and the Honorable Thomas Walsh, owner of the Wolhurst estate along the South Platte River south of Littleton.
1,500 people attended the dedication on Wednesday evening, January 17, 1908, and found the courthouse brilliantly lighted with electricity that had been brought to Littleton only five years earlier.
In 1948, the Arapahoe County Commissioners voted to add a new wing to the west side of the building at a cost of $272,000. In 1988, Arapahoe County court operations moved to a new location on East Arapahoe Road and the courthouse was vacated. The building was saved from demolition when the city acquired it for use as the Littleton Municipal Courthouse.
Utilizing a grant from the State Historical Fund, a restoration of the building began in 1998. The architecture firm Andrews and Anderson was hired to develop the interior and exterior restoration plan. The 1948 addition was removed, the building was cleaned and tuck pointed; and the windows, crown molding
and cupola were repaired returning the building to its 1908 appearance. The courthouse was reopened in 2000. The restoration was recognized with numerous awards.
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