Boone County Courthouse to celebrate 100th anniversary with open house

COLUMBIA — The Boone County Courthouse will be hosting an open house Saturday to celebrate its 100th anniversary and the completion of recent renovations, according to a news release from the 13th Circuit Court.

Two floors have been added to the courthouse annex at 705 E. Walnut St. to provide space for a new courtroom, a jury assembly area and offices for the prosecuting attorney. Renovations also included expansion of the circuit clerk's office space and improvements to other areas of the courthouse. The renovations were funded by a one-fifth cent sales tax approved by voters on April 4, 2006.

Open house will begin at 10 a.m., with tours running every 15 minutes. At noon, there will be a short program in the ceremonial courtroom. Tours will resume 15 minutes after the program, with the final tour starting at 2 p.m.

During the tours, there will be a state-of-the-art presentaton of the new courtroom's audio-visual equipment and an explanation of how the new jury assembly room will improve jury procedures. The public will also be able to see new and renovated offices throughout the courthouse.