Courthouse Square Project

The Morganton Main Street Program has worked since 1996 to bring about the renovations of the Historic Burke County Courthouse Square.  It has been acknowledged and recommended in two downtown Masterplans, in 1997 and 2018, as a priority for the community.  Finally, in 2020, the Mayor and City Council unanimously and enthusiastically awarded the contract for the project to Wilkie Construction, and made the loan request for the renovation of the Historic Burke County Courthouse Grounds.  When completed, the citizens of Morganton and Burke County will have an amphitheater, all new sidewalks and steps, improved landscaping and a much-needed repaired historic stone wall — all of which should stand strong for at least another 50 years.  It is the Main Street Program’s hope that when completed, the renovations will honor the stature of the Historic Courthouse, modernize the infrastructure, pay homage to the great women who saw to it that a stone wall of substance surrounded the grounds, and be a welcoming symbol of our community by continuing its heritage of being “The Place” to gather for our citizens and visitors.

Renovations to the Historic Burke County Courthouse Square began the week of September 14, as contractors completed demolition of the Jailhouse Gallery.

In order for contractors to work freely, and to keep citizens safe when they are near the construction site, a fence has been placed around the entirety of the Courthouse Square. The fence will remain in place for the duration of the project, which is expected to be complete by summer 2021.

The renovations to the Courthouse Square will see the construction of a new amphitheater, common area, and green space on the southern end of the property that everyone will be able to enjoy. As part of these renovations, the stone wall surrounding the square is being restored.

Currently, the original stones are being removed from a portion of the wall that borders North Green Street. These stones are being kept, and once structural improvements are made, the wall will be rebuilt using the original stones.

This page on our website is dedicated to updating the citizens of Morganton and Burke County on the project as it progresses. It is scheduled to be a 9-month project, with the goal to have an opening celebration in July 2021!  So stay tuned, and watch for monthly updates on this page. Be sure to take a look at the renderings below that show how it all will look upon completion, and don’t miss the time-lapse shots and live stream of the work as it progresses.

Page last updated: May 11, 2021