Okeechobee County invites residents and visitors to step back through a century of local history during the Historic Okeechobee County Courthouse 100-Year Open House Celebration.
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![The Historic Courthouse will be transformed into a walk-through historical experience featuring exhibits, photographs, artifacts and stories highlighting the people, events and public offices that have shaped Okeechobee County. [Photo courtesy Okeechobee County]](https://eta.creativecirclecdn.com/scfl/original/20260910-095212-954-Okee%20100%20year%20exhibits.jpg)
OKEECHOBEE- Okeechobee County invited residents and visitors to step back through a century of local history during the Historic Okeechobee County Courthouse 100-Year Open House Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 12.
The Historic Courthouse, located at 304 NW 2nd Street in Okeechobee, has been transformed into a walk-through historical experience featuring exhibits, photographs, artifacts and stories highlighting the people, events and public offices that have shaped Okeechobee County over the past century.
The Courthouse was completed in 1926 and has remained a centerpiece of county government and community life for generations. The centennial celebration will give visitors an opportunity to explore its history while learning more about the officials, families and significant events connected to the building.
The exhibits will remain on display until Oct. 1.
First Floor Exhibits
Visitors beginning their tour on the first floor will find exhibits highlighting:
Several exhibits tell stories that may be unfamiliar even to longtime residents. During the devastating 1928 hurricane, for example, the Courthouse became part of the community’s response to one of the deadliest natural disasters in Florida history. Historical accounts describe its hallways being lined with plain wooden coffins as the community dealt with the tremendous loss of life.
Other displays will trace the courthouse back to its earliest planning. In 1925, Florida Governor John W. Martin authorized a $200,000 bond issue for construction of the new courthouse. Architect George Gaynor Hyde designed the building, and contractors Rogers and Duncanson brought that design to life.
Second Floor Exhibits
The second floor will continue the journey through Okeechobee County’s legal and governmental history and will give visitors the opportunity to step inside one of the courthouse’s most significant spaces — the William L. Hendry Courtroom.
The courtroom bears the name of the late Judge William L. Hendry, whose distinguished judicial career was closely connected to the Historic Okeechobee County Courthouse. Hendry served as Okeechobee County Judge from 1981 to 1983, became a Circuit Judge in 1984, and served as Chief Judge from 1990 to 1993. After leaving the circuit bench in 1995, he continued serving Florida’s courts as a Senior Judge until 2009.
A special exhibit on the second floor features a collection personally assembled by Judge Hendry, offering visitors a unique look at the courthouse, its judicial history and the people who served within its walls. The exhibit provides a particularly meaningful connection to the centennial because it reflects the history of the courthouse through the perspective of a judge who spent decades serving the community and preserving its story.
Judge Hendry’s legacy remains an important part of the courthouse today. The courtroom named in his honor stands as a lasting tribute to his years of service and to the generations of judges, attorneys, court personnel and residents who have passed through the historic courtroom over the past century.
Among the exhibits and experiences on the second floor is a personal exhibit made by the late Judge Hendry himself associated with the courthouse, its judicial history and the people who served within its walls.
A special centennial video, “A Century of History,” tells the story of the Historic Okeechobee County Courthouse, its construction, its changing role through the decades and the generations of residents and public servants who have walked its halls.
The courtroom itself remains one of the building’s most recognizable spaces. Judge William L. Hendry, who served as Okeechobee County Judge, Circuit Judge, Chief Judge and later Senior Judge, is among those whose legacy is closely tied to the courthouse. The courtroom was later named in his honor.
Vsitors will also see historical photographs showing the courthouse as it appeared shortly after completion, images of the people responsible for its construction, and displays documenting how county government evolved alongside the community.
Celebrating 100 Years of Public Service
For 100 years, the Historic Courthouse has served as a place where decisions were made, records were preserved, justice was administered and residents came together to conduct the business of their community.
