Washington County Courthouse Motifs – Marietta, Ohio - Atlas Obscura

Washington County Courthouse Motifs

Dozens of striking Indian symbols cover the second-floor hallways of this rural courthouse. 

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While the exterior of this Marietta courthouse is striking, the Indian motifs incorporated into the design of the second-floor hallways are even more so. Visitors may at first be taken aback, as the symbols in the mosaic floor tile resemble the Nazi swastika. In fact, as a notice in the courthouse clarifies, these motifs are an inverted version of the German swastika, and held symbolic meaning in India and other cultures long before the rise of the Third Reich, often representing good luck. 

Know Before You Go

This courthouse is easy to find in downtown Marietta. It is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. There is no screening at the main entrance, but a sign says all visitors are subject to search. The employees are probably used to visitors taking photos by now.

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April 10, 2019

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  • Washington County Courthouse Fascebook.
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