From Courthouse Steps to Statewide Stories: How a Building Shaped My Creative Vision

In my teen years growing up in Hardin County, Iowa, I found myself consistently drawn to the courthouse in Eldora. Nearly every day, I rode my bike past that building; not out of obligation, but because something about it commanded attention. Its stately presence, intricate architecture, and sense of permanence stood out in a town where everything else seemed to change.

When I picked up a camera for the first time, I didn’t have to search long for a subject. That same courthouse became my muse as I began learning the fundamentals of photography. I spent hours exploring its structure, studying how light moved across its surfaces, and discovering how a building could tell a story from every angle.

The photographs I’m sharing here were taken on May 28, 2018. At the time, I didn’t realize how meaningful they would become. But looking back, these images represent the early steps of a path that would eventually lead to the creation of the 254 Project.

Today, through the 254 Project, I am on a journey to document all 254 county courthouses in Texas; each one a testament to civic pride, architectural heritage, and local history. What began as a fascination with a single courthouse has grown into a full-scale mission of storytelling through imagery, interviews, and exploration.

That courthouse in Eldora helped shape my eye as a photographer. More importantly, it sparked an appreciation for the role these buildings play in our communities—past, present, and future.

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