Perhaps you know Trumbull County as the birthplace of Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl – but did you know the county also contains a “Rock Palace”?

The “Rock Palace” is the nickname for the Trumbull County Courthouse, known for its distinctive rustication, a masonry technique that creates surfaces ranging from smooth to rough textures. Other hallmarks of its Richardsonian Romanesque architecture include towering arches and cylindrical turrets. Four statues of Lady Justice stand atop the building’s gables, and its distinctive common pleas courtroom is described as the largest in Ohio.

Located in downtown Warren, the courthouse sits in the hometown of several notable Americans. In addition to Grohl, who also drummed for the iconic grunge band Nirvana, Trumbull County was the birthplace of President William McKinley and famed attorney Clarence Darrow, who defended high school teacher John Scopes in the 1925 “Scopes Monkey Trial.” Born in nearby Ravenna, prominent suffragist Harriet Taylor Upton moved to Warren as a child and grew up there.

Built in 1895, the courthouse also played a role in the women’s suffrage movement. From 1905 to 1909, it served as headquarters for the National American Woman Suffrage Association while Upton was the group’s treasurer.

Learn more about Trumbull County, its courthouse, and the county’s history in the Supreme Court of Ohio’s mini-documentary series, “Seats of Justice.” Curious about Ohio’s other historic county courthouses? Check back for more episodes documenting the Supreme Court’s ongoing tour of courthouses across the state, or watch past installments of the series on the Ohio Channel. 

For more than a year, the Supreme Court has been celebrating the United States’ 250th birthday – on July 4, 2026 – with “The Story of America,” which highlights significant historical events. The celebration of the semiquincentennial extends beyond digital content to also include events and displays at the Court. The initiative aims to spark curiosity, enhance civic literacy, and honor key moments in American and Ohio history.