WHAT Groundbreaking for expansion and renovation of Old DC Courthouse  
 
WHERE 451 Indiana Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 
 
WHEN Tuesday, May 10, 2005, at 2:30    

WHO  Chief Judge Annice M. Wagner, DC Court of Appeals  

Chief Judge Rufus G. King, III, Superior Court of the District of Columbia  

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton  
 
WHY The Old DC Courthouse, which dates from 1821, is one of the oldest buildings in the District of Columbia.  It is the centerpiece of Judiciary Square, one of the original, historic green spaces identified in Pierre L’Enfant’s plan for the Nation’s Capital.  Daniel Webster and Francis Scott Key practiced law in the building, and John Surratt was tried there for his part in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.  The Old DC Courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is an official project of Save America's Treasures. 
 
The expansion and renovation of the Old DC Courthouse for the highest court of the District of Columbia will provide much-needed space for the DC Courts while imparting new life to one of the most significant historic buildings and green spaces in Washington, DC  Designed by Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners LLP, the restored and expanded building will meet the needs of the Courts, restore the glory of a historic landmark, and stimulate neighborhood economic activity.