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Washington County Courthouse Motifs

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

Marietta, Ohio

Added By
Robert Titus
The entire second floor features this eye-catching symbol.   rbt45769 / Atlas Obscura User
The entire second floor features this eye-catching symbol.   rbt45769 / Atlas Obscura User
These Indian motifs are a part of the tile floor inside the courthouse.   rbt45769 / Atlas Obscura User
Intricate tile work exists throughout the second floor of the courthouse.   rbt45769 / Atlas Obscura User
A closeup of the motifs.   rbt45769 / Atlas Obscura User
A sign differentiating between the Indian motif and the German swastika.   rbt45769 / Atlas Obscura User
The Washington County Court House sits at the corner of Second and Putnam Streets in Marietta, Ohio.   rbt45769 / Atlas Obscura User
Another view looking down at the second floor.   rbt45769 / Atlas Obscura User
On ornate skylight helps to illuminate the area.   rbt45769 / Atlas Obscura User
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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. 

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Design Culture Architecture Nazis Mosaics

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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rbt45769

Published

April 10, 2019

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