Merced historic courthouse museum celebrates 150 years, 150 stories
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- Merced County Courthouse Museum holds Oct. 4 ceremony marking 150 years and restoration.
- New exhibit “Old Courthouse: 150 Years, 150 Stories” presents 80+ community narratives and artifacts.
- Restoration funded from federal, state, county and nonprofit sources for exterior work.
A pillar of justice in Merced County for more than 70 years, the Merced County Courthouse Museum’s 150th anniversary ceremony will celebrate the building’s history, the community and the completion of restoration to the historic buildings exterior.
The ceremony, set for 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 4, will mark the culmination of a yearlong celebration of Merced’s oldest courthouse. During the event, the courthouse museum will open a new exhibit: “Old Courthouse: 150 Years, 150 Stories.”
According to Merced County Museum Director Sarah Lim, the exhibit reflects the courthouse’s role as a gathering place for the community.
“So the most important component of this exhibit is to hear people’s voice,” Lim said. “Let them tell their stories. Let them tell their experience, their memories of this building. Work in this building, or use this building for various ceremonies, from weddings to swearing-in ceremonies and to poetry reading events.”
Lim said more than 80 stories were submitted for possible inclusion in the exhibit, which will also feature artifacts, building documentation and what Lim called “courthouse briefs.” These include details such as the laying of the building’s cornerstone and information about the county’s legal history and other historical accounts.
Following remarks from city, county and state elected officials, a ribbon cutting will take place. Community members and the public are invited to attend the free celebration which will also feature food, games, museum tours and an antique car and tractor show.
On Saturday evening, a banquet ceremony will entertain roughly 345 guests and supporters at the Merced County Fairgrounds. Individual tickets sold for $150 each. Lim said the banquet sold 10 platinum tables at $2,500, 12 gold tables at $1,500 as well as numerous silver tables. In total, 43 tables were sold, with the proceeds benefitting the Merced County Historical Society.
“I’m so proud to be part of this project and part of this courthouse,” said Lim. “Supporting the project means that you’re doing a good job, that people appreciate your work and understanding the courthouse museum, it is a very important and important cultural resources to our community.”
Lim added that she is proud to see people willing to write checks in support of the event and invest in the museum.
Restoration to the museum’s exterior began earlier this year and a rededication ceremony for the historic courthouse was held in May, which featured the placement of a new plaque that references the courthouse’s original dedication, as well as the year the county seat was relocated to Merced from Snelling in 1872.
The courthouse, which was built in 1875, served as a courthouse for more than 70 years and housed several county departments including the Treasurer-Tax Collector, Parks and Recreation Department, Board of Supervisors and others.
The historic building, designed by A.A. Bennett, was built to resemble an Italian palazzo and features a white plaster exterior. The restoration efforts were funded by $2 million in federal money, along with $1 million from the Merced County Board of Supervisors, $50,000 from the Merced County Historical Society and $500,000 from the California Natural Resources Agency.
This story was originally published October 3, 2025 at 5:00 AM.