Built in 1891, this impressive building served as the Marshall County Courthouse for nearly 90 years. By the 1950s, county officials believed the aging courthouse had become too costly to maintain and was no longer meeting the county’s needs.
In the 1970s, the Marshall County Historical Society led an effort to build community support for preserving the historic building. A new courthouse was eventually constructed next door, and in 1979, the old courthouse was deeded to the Historical Society.
Since then, the building has been preserved through a combination of grants, donations, and a trust fund established by forward-thinking members of the Historical Society.
The building’s story continued to evolve after the Historical Society took ownership. For a time, it remained home to several county offices and business tenants. As the Society’s collection of local artifacts grew, rooms were gradually transformed into museum exhibits. Today, visitors can explore 18 display rooms filled with artifacts and stories that help bring Marshall County’s history to life.
The historic courthouse also features several original storage vaults with cast-iron doors and interior iron shutters. The former Register of Deeds office now houses a research library, providing a valuable resource for those interested in exploring local and family history.
At the heart of the building, the historic courtroom continues to serve the community. Over the years, it has hosted weddings, plays, mock trials, meetings, and Marshall County Historical Society programs.
Today, the museum offers visitors a chance to step inside one of Marysville’s most significant historic buildings and discover the people, places, and stories that shaped Marshall County.
Research Library
The Research Library at the Courthouse Museum has the following records:
- Birth, marriage and death records
- Cemetery database for Marshall County, Kansas
- Church records
- Family genealogy books
- Naturalization database
- Rural school records
- Town histories
These records are not available online; please visit or contact the museum for more information.
