The Flickr Italianrenaissancerevival Image Generatr

Typical elements are the tiled roof, the arch over the central window, columns accenting the entry, symmetry, & decorative brackets supporting the wide eaves. The twisted columns and tilework give this one a Moorish-Spanish flair.

From AI:
The Monroe County Courthouse, located at 123 Madison Street in downtown Clarendon, Arkansas, is a striking example of Italian Renaissance Revival architecture and a significant historical landmark in the region. Designed by prolific Little Rock architect Charles L. Thompson and constructed in 1911, the three-story brick building features Classical Revival elements, including low octagonal towers with tile roofs at each corner and a prominent clocktower on its main façade. The interior boasts elegant details such as ceramic tile floors, marble wainscoting, and a courtroom with original oak furniture and a domed skylight of richly colored stained glass. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, the courthouse stands as the sole example of this architectural style in Monroe County and one of Arkansas’s most prominent courthouses.

The courthouse has a rich history, occupying the same site as its four predecessors, which faced various fates, including disassembly by Union forces during the Civil War and a fire on New Year’s Day in 1895. Its resilience was notably tested during the devastating Flood of 1927, when the White River and Mississippi River overflowed, inundating Clarendon. The courthouse served as a sanctuary, with hundreds of residents crowding its upper floors to escape the floodwaters while awaiting rescue by boat. Community activities, including church services, were held in the building during the city’s recovery, underscoring its role as a communal hub. Despite the flood’s impact, the courthouse’s original furnishings and structural integrity endured, preserving its historical and architectural significance.

Beyond its architectural and historical importance, the Monroe County Courthouse is a functional center of local governance, housing the County Circuit Court of the 1st Judicial District. The building’s courtroom, located on the second story, features a balcony with a brass statue of Lady Justice, a common symbol in courthouses nationwide. The courthouse grounds also host two memorials: a black stone inscribed with “All gave some, some gave all,” dedicated to county veterans from World War I to the Iraq War, and a concrete obelisk. These elements reflect the courthouse’s role as a site of civic pride and remembrance. The building’s design and amenities, such as its spacious landscaped grounds and north-facing portico supported by slender columns, enhance its prominence in Clarendon’s town square.

Local lore adds a haunting dimension to the courthouse’s story, with legends claiming it is haunted by the ghost of Ernze Mabel Orr, known as “Mabel.” According to tales, Mabel and her husband, John Orr, were a comedy and opera-performing duo who settled in Clarendon in 1893. A tragic story alleges Mabel was involved in a plot that led to her death by poison in the courthouse basement, with her moans reportedly heard by witnesses. While such stories may be apocryphal, they contribute to the courthouse’s mystique, drawing interest from those intrigued by its history and alleged paranormal activity. Today, the Monroe County Courthouse remains a vital symbol of Clarendon’s heritage, blending architectural grandeur, historical resilience, and cultural significance.

From AI:
The Monroe County Courthouse, located at 123 Madison Street in downtown Clarendon, Arkansas, is a striking example of Italian Renaissance Revival architecture and a significant historical landmark in the region. Designed by prolific Little Rock architect Charles L. Thompson and constructed in 1911, the three-story brick building features Classical Revival elements, including low octagonal towers with tile roofs at each corner and a prominent clocktower on its main façade. The interior boasts elegant details such as ceramic tile floors, marble wainscoting, and a courtroom with original oak furniture and a domed skylight of richly colored stained glass. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, the courthouse stands as the sole example of this architectural style in Monroe County and one of Arkansas’s most prominent courthouses.

The courthouse has a rich history, occupying the same site as its four predecessors, which faced various fates, including disassembly by Union forces during the Civil War and a fire on New Year’s Day in 1895. Its resilience was notably tested during the devastating Flood of 1927, when the White River and Mississippi River overflowed, inundating Clarendon. The courthouse served as a sanctuary, with hundreds of residents crowding its upper floors to escape the floodwaters while awaiting rescue by boat. Community activities, including church services, were held in the building during the city’s recovery, underscoring its role as a communal hub. Despite the flood’s impact, the courthouse’s original furnishings and structural integrity endured, preserving its historical and architectural significance.

Beyond its architectural and historical importance, the Monroe County Courthouse is a functional center of local governance, housing the County Circuit Court of the 1st Judicial District. The building’s courtroom, located on the second story, features a balcony with a brass statue of Lady Justice, a common symbol in courthouses nationwide. The courthouse grounds also host two memorials: a black stone inscribed with “All gave some, some gave all,” dedicated to county veterans from World War I to the Iraq War, and a concrete obelisk. These elements reflect the courthouse’s role as a site of civic pride and remembrance. The building’s design and amenities, such as its spacious landscaped grounds and north-facing portico supported by slender columns, enhance its prominence in Clarendon’s town square.

Local lore adds a haunting dimension to the courthouse’s story, with legends claiming it is haunted by the ghost of Ernze Mabel Orr, known as “Mabel.” According to tales, Mabel and her husband, John Orr, were a comedy and opera-performing duo who settled in Clarendon in 1893. A tragic story alleges Mabel was involved in a plot that led to her death by poison in the courthouse basement, with her moans reportedly heard by witnesses. While such stories may be apocryphal, they contribute to the courthouse’s mystique, drawing interest from those intrigued by its history and alleged paranormal activity. Today, the Monroe County Courthouse remains a vital symbol of Clarendon’s heritage, blending architectural grandeur, historical resilience, and cultural significance.

One of several slides of the museum. Note on slide lists date of 3/4/1969. Slide was found on eBay.

One of several slides of the museum. Note on slide lists date of 3/4/1969. Slide was found on eBay.

One of several slides of the museum. Note on slide lists date of 3/4/1969. Slide was found on eBay.

From AI
The Old Post Office Building and Customhouse in Little Rock, Arkansas—officially known as the Little Rock U.S. Post Office and Courthouse—is a historic structure that reflects the city’s growth and the federal government’s presence in the late 19th century. Located at 300 West 2nd Street, it was constructed between 1876 and 1881 to meet Little Rock’s expanding need for federal services, including postal operations, customs processing, and a courthouse. Designed by James B. Hill, the Supervising Architect of the U.S. Treasury Department, the building is a standout example of Italian Renaissance Revival architecture—a Victorian-era style marked by symmetry, classical details, and ornate finishes.

The original four-story building sits on a sandstone foundation from Cabin Creek, Arkansas, with a base of pink Indiana granite and upper walls clad in smooth Berea, Ohio, sandstone. The first level features rusticated stone, while the upper stories use ashlar blocks, giving it a refined yet robust look. Inside, the floors are terrazzo with gray Tennessee marble borders, and brass and bronze accents shine in the grilles and hardware. A notable feature is the open-cage elevator from the 1890s—one of Arkansas’s earliest—restored with its wrought and cast-iron details, though it’s no longer operational due to modern safety codes. An elaborate iron staircase with a mahogany handrail, decorated with rosettes and foliated motifs, also survives, showcasing the era’s craftsmanship.

The building’s layout originally placed postal services on the first floor, federal offices (like the Collector of Internal Revenue) on the second, and the U.S. District Court on the third and fourth floors, complete with courtrooms, judges’ chambers, and space for the U.S. Marshal. As Little Rock grew, so did the building: a 9,000-square-foot addition came in 1897 under William Martin Aiken, followed by further expansions in 1908–1910. The 1897 courtroom, with its pink and gray Tennessee marble walls and Ionic columns flanking the judge’s bench, contrasts with the original 1881 courtroom, which boasts a 23-foot coffered plaster ceiling painted in over 25 vivid colors, uncovered during a 1990s restoration.

By 1932, the postal service and courts outgrew the space and moved to new facilities, though other federal tenants—like the Armed Forces Examining Station—stayed until 1975, when it was declared surplus property. The state took it over, and from 1978 to 1992, it housed the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s William H. Bowen School of Law. Returned to federal hands in 1992, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) oversaw a major renovation from 1994 to 1997, adding rear wings and restoring its historic grandeur. Today, it’s home to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and U.S. Marshal Service.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, the building’s significance isn’t just architectural—it’s a survivor of Little Rock’s evolution from a small trade hub to a modern capital. Its expansions mirror the city’s boom, while its reuse reflects practical adaptation.

Republique, 624 South La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles. The historic Italian Villa building was built by Charlie Chaplin in 1929 and later converted for the Campanile Restaurant / La Brea Bakery which opened in 1989.

Variety Arts Center, 940 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles. Built in 1923, designed by Allison & Allison in the Italian Renaissance Revival style.

Variety Arts Center, 940 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles. Built in 1923, designed by Allison & Allison in the Italian Renaissance Revival style

Historic building near the north end of downtown still houses the downtown branch of the U.S. Post Office.

Historic building near the north end of downtown still houses the downtown branch of the U.S. Post Office.

535 Park Ave., Lake Park, Florida

Architect: Bruce Kitchell

Year Built: 1927

535 Park Ave., Lake Park, Florida

Architect: Bruce Kitchell

Year Built: 1927

535 Park Ave., Lake Park, Florida

Architect: Bruce Kitchell

Year Built: 1927

535 Park Ave., Lake Park, Florida

Architect: Bruce Kitchell

Year Built: 1927

Old Fort Pierce City Hall
315 Avenue A
Fort Pierce, Florida 34950

Architect: William Hatcher

Builder: C.E. Cahow

Built: 1925

Old Fort Pierce City Hall
315 Avenue A
Fort Pierce, Florida 34950

Architect: William Hatcher

Builder: C.E. Cahow

Built: 1925

1 N. Pinckney Street, on Capitol Square.

"Built in 1871, the old American Exchange Bank is one of the last remnants of the large three or more story sandstone blocks that dominated the capitol square from the 1850s to the 1950s. It is located on the site of the old American Hotel, where the first session of the Wisconsin legislature was held. Its architecture, by Stephen V. Shipman, is a fine example of the Italian Renaissance revival, displaying excellent craftsmanship in sandstone. The building originally extended five bays along N. Pinckney Street where the MG&E Energy Center is now. This part was destroyed by fire in the 1940s."

www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Property/HI16059