The Romanesque building exhibits many of the classic features of an architectural style widely favored for public buildings at the turn of the century.  The arched doors and windows, the alternating layers of stone facing and the turrets and tower, are all quintessential elements of  Romanesque Revival Architecture.  Interestingly the architect, Cornelius Rapp is best known for his work as a theater designer, having by some accounts designed and or built over 400 theaters in the period between 1906 and the 1930's, including such well known examples of luxurious theaters as the Schubert and Palace in Chicago, and Shea's Performing Arts Center in Buffalo, N.Y.

The functional role of the courthouse, and courthouse architecture, in rural communities is aptly described in an article in the August 2003 issue of the Kansas Preservationist.(this PDF file loads very slowly)

The Charleston courthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.  The National Register Property Information is available on-line at the  Illinois Historic Preservation Agency site .