Glacier County | US Courthouses

Glacier County is named for Glacier National Park which is located in the county.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Alberta, Canada

E – Toole County

S – Pondera County

W – Flathead County

Created: February 17, 1919

County Seat:

Cut Bank 1919 – present

County Courthouse – Cut Bank

Location: 512 East Main Street / 5th Avenue SE

Built: 1938 – 1939

Style: Streamlined Moderne

Architect: A V McIver of McIver & Cohagen Architects of Great Falls

Contractor: S M Askevold of Conrad

Description: The building faces northeast and is a three story buff colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Cut Bank. The building has a raised basement. The northeast front has a tiered projecting center section with wide stairs to the second story entrance. Stone frames the recessed entrance and windows on the third story. Above the stonework is an eagle. The roof line is flat. The interior has asphalt tile beneath carpeting in the offices, terrazzo floors and travertine baseboards in the corridors, and varnished red oak trim throughout. The staircase ascend at the center of the northeast side. The doors all feature original bronze hardware and one-light functioning transoms. The third-floor courtrooms were remodeled in the late twentieth century, but vintage chrome-plated light fixtures remain. The large County District Court courtroom is located at the center of the southwest side of the building. Modern paneling and acoustic tiles cover some walls and ceilings, respectively, but original plaster and pink travertine marble from Gardiner, Montana, likely remains underneath. The railings are especially intriguing, with wrought iron balusters, some with prickly pear detailing, and chrome handrails. The building houses the County District Court of the 9th Judicial District and County Justice Court.

Note: During construction of the courthouse, the general contractor received $94,900. The plumbing and heating contract was awarded to Service Plumbing of Kalispell for $13,472 and the electrical contract was awarded to Palmquist Electric Company for $5,095.

See: National Register of Historic Places – Glacier County Courthouse

See: The 9th Judicial District includes Glacier County, Pondera County, Teton County and Toole County.

History: The county was created in 1919 and Cut Bank was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was the Cut Bank City Hall, a three story brick structure built in 1917 which stood at 17 1st Avenue SW. The city offices moved and the county occupied the building in the 1920’s. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1938 to 1939. The first courthouse became the Glacier Hotel and was demolished in 2022.