Courthouse and Old County Jail

Courthouse and Old County Jail

Why This Place Matters: The Carter County Courthouse has long been the center of civic life in Grayson. It connects the city to county government, Civil War conflict, New Deal-era construction, and public memory.

The Story: Carter County was formed on May 1, 1838, with Grayson as the county seat. The first courthouse was built between 1840 and 1842, with a brick annex added around 1860. During the Civil War, the courthouse area became a place of tension and conflict, including an attempted courthouse burning by Confederate guerrillas in 1864.

The current courthouse was built in 1907. Behind it stands the old county jail, constructed in 1935 with Works Progress Administration support. The courthouse grounds also include the Spirit of the American Doughboy memorial, dedicated in 1923 to honor Carter County’s World War I veterans and casualties.

Passport Prompt: Find the Doughboy memorial. What war does it commemorate?