Attorney Chuck Lanehart writes on the first courthouse serving Lubbock county and the developing community. Built in 1891, the courthouse first also functioned as a dance hall, park, concert venue and church. For 300 permanent residents of Lubbock, the building offered shelter and a gathering place.

Learn more about the first criminal trials and notable cases in Lubbock’s original courthouse. To hear about the modern courthouses serving Lubbock County, read our guide.