The beautiful Hood County Courthouse which stands in the center of a lovely landscaped lot, was built 1890-1891 in the French Second Empire-style of rusticated and detailed native limestone. This is the third stone courthouse to stand on this spot. The first Courthouse was a small one-room log cabin. A larger rock courthouse, built to replace the small log cabin, burned in 1875. Arson was suspected and all the county’s land records and deeds were destroyed. The present building was designed by W.C. Dodson of Waco and was built for $40,000. The Seth Thomas town clock adorns the clock tower and was purchased and installed later in 1891. This clock, one of only a few that remain working, must be hand wound daily to keep the time. For more of the history of the Hood County Courthouse, it is open for tours Monday through Friday 8:00 until 4:30.