Kendra M. Olson, Attorney

01/21/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/183EPUMzRQ/

01/19/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GADPQoFb3/

Woodbury County Courthouse in Sioux City, Iowa

The interior of the Woodbury County Courthouse in Sioux City, Iowa is an architectural treasure and one of the most remarkable civic spaces in the Midwest. Completed in 1918, this courthouse is widely considered the largest publicly owned Prairie School-style building in the world and has been recognized as a National Historic Landmark for its design and craftsmanship.

Inside, visitors are greeted by a spacious and elegantly detailed interior that reflects the Prairie School’s emphasis on harmony with the landscape, horizontal lines, and fine materials. At the heart of the building is a central rotunda capped by a stunning stained‑glass dome, which fills the space with natural light and emphasizes the open, airy feel of the interior. The floors are laid in polished marble, and the walls are adorned with intricate terra cotta moldings and decorative metalwork created by Crown Iron Works, adding both texture and artistic depth to the environment.

The courthouse also houses murals by Chicago artist John Warner Norton, which depict scenes ranging from rural farm life to a tribute to World War I soldiers, offering cultural and historical context within the building’s civic setting. These painted works and sculptural details combine to make the interior not just functional government space, but a living museum of early 20th‑century architecture and public art.

Designed in partnership by architects William L. Steele, George Grant Elmslie, and William Gray Purcell—all influenced by Prairie School pioneer Louis Sullivan—the building was initially controversial for its modern style but is now celebrated as a masterpiece of American architectural heritage.

📍 620 Douglas St #210, Sioux City, Iowa
📷 Brian Abeling / Iowa Road Trip
Links: Explore Siouxland

03/16/2025

I have had 3 people ask me about claiming their kids for whom they pay child support, as dependent exemptions/income tax credits because of some new Trump law. A child support order or divorce decree may allow the child support payor to claim one or some of the children involved, but there is no such new Trump law. It seems to be a Tiktok invention. I anticipate a bunch of conflicts over this.

The U.S. president made many promises ahead of his January 2025 inauguration.

12/31/2024

** Favorite activities and photos from 2024 **

The Woodbury County Courthouse in Sioux City, Iowa is the largest public building built in the Prairie School style. It was named one of the country’s 200 key buildings by New York City’s Whitney Library of Design in 1993. Taken on Sept 30, 2024, Brian Abeling / Iowa Road Trip

09/30/2024

10/17/2023

The Iowa City Community School District on Monday removed 68 books from its library shelves across its K-12 schools in compliance with Senate File 496. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the law on May 23 that banned books describing or depicting sexual acts from school libraries, something now being don...

10/17/2023

Former President Donald Trump rallied caucus-goers in Iowa’s rural Dallas County Monday, where he received the endorsement of the state’s attorney general.

10/04/2023

The street is open in front of our building! (7th Street between Pierce and Nebraska).