Tornado
On July 19, 2018, an EF-3 tornado moved, with estimated peak winds of 144mph, through Marshalltown and caused major damage to the historic Marshall County Courthouse. The tornado struck the downtown area during the late afternoon, damaging the courthouse spire, clock tower, dome, roof areas, interior spaces, and surrounding grounds. The recovery became a multi-year effort to stabilize, repair, modernize, and preserve one of Marshall County's most recognizable landmarks.
Why This Moment Matters
The 2018 tornado became one of the most significant modern events in the courthouse's history. The storm damaged the building's most visible architectural features, forced county operations to relocate, and required a major restoration effort. The recovery also reinforced the courthouse's importance as both a working public building and a symbol of Marshall County's resilience.
Today, the restoration stands as another chapter in the building's long preservation story, following earlier community efforts that saved and renovated the courthouse in the 1970s.
- National Weather Service Des Moines. "July 19, 2018 Tornadoes - Bondurant, Marshalltown,Pella."
- Times-Republican. "Marshall County Courthouse - A recovery timeline." Published Nov. 20, 2019.
- OPN Architects. "Marshall County Courthouse." Project page for Marshall County courthouse restoration, 2018-2022.
- Snyder & Associates. "Marshall County Courthouse Requires Structural Repairs after Storm Damage."
- Iowa Public Radio. "Severe Property Damage, No Deaths In Marshalltown Tornado." Published July 20, 2018.
- Marshall County historical timeline document, 2016, for pre-tornado courthouse background.
