In 1799 the first recognized Wood County courthouse was the log cabin home of Wood County Justice Hugh Phelps . The home was located south of the Little Kanawha River in an area called Neal's Station.

The second Wood County Courthouse was constructed near the mouth of the Little Kanawha River in 1800 . The county's first permanent-structure courthouse was made of logs hewn from nearby walnut trees and served the area from 1800 to 1817 .

The third Wood County Courthouse, constructed in 1817, was made from timber, stone, handmade brick, glass and iron. It was built in an area of Parkersburg now called Court Square. This site has housed every Wood County courthouse since then.

Completed in 1860 at a cost of $25,000, the fourth Wood County Courthouse had a typically Southern appearance due to a modified clas sic design with Greek columns, though l ightning destroyed the graceful steeple.

During the Civil War, the fourth c ourthouse was also used as headquarters and a hospital for Federal troops. Though it would close in 1899, the fourth courthouse witnessed the most rapid period of growth in Wood County population and wealth.

The first four Wood County Courthouses were centers for political, economic and social events. Several church societies met inside the Courthouses, including the Baptist, Episcopal, Methodist and Presbyterian societies. The area's first Masonic Lodge held its meetings in the Courthouse on Court Square. During the hot months of summer, courthouse officials could be found in a shady spot between the square's buildings, playing a heated game of marbles.

Construction on the current Wood County Courthouse began in 1899. It took nearly two years at a cost of $100,000 to complete the huge, five-story structure.

Built with native sandstone, the Courthouse is an excellent example of modified Richardsonian Romanesque architecture. The exterior is highlighted with ornate turrets, balconies, stilted arches, a bell tower and unique, symbolic carvings. An intricate marble fountain featuring a bust of former State Circuit Judge James Monroe Jackson was erected near the building's west entrance in 1901.

The Wood County Courthouse, listed on the National Historic Register, is said to be

fireproof thanks to the massive amounts of iron and steel in its framework. The cornerstone of the massive framework was laid in place by the Masonic organization during Wood County's Centennial Celebration in 1899.

The interior of the Wood County Courthouse reflects the craftsmanship of woodworkers and stained glass artisans of the late 19 th century. Finely detailed oak woodwork can be found on the desk and scrolled railing in the second floor judicial room.

In the early 1980s, an organization of local residents saved the fifth Wood County Courthouse from proposed destruction. The building underwent an extensive renovation in 1983 and 1984 at a cost of $1.5 million.

As the rallying point for the County's 1999 Bicentennial celebration, a time capsule was placed near the west entrance. It is to be opened in 2099.