The 1916 Court House was destined to be destroyed when the new courthouse across the street opened in 1995. Due to an increase in enthusiasm for preserving the County’s history, the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners voted to restore the courthouse in April 2002, and they allocated funding. In February 2003, the Board voted to grant space in the Court House to the Historical Society. Removal of the wraparound façade and demolition of the annex and its connecting structure began in January 2004. The County Commissioners authorized the restoration contract in September 2005, and the Notice to Proceed was issued in January 2006.

Completion of the project is scheduled for late November. County employees from the Public Affairs Department (Channel 20 and Cable TV) and the County Attorney Litigation Department will relocate to the Court House in December 2007. The Historical Society will also begin installing exhibits at this time, and the Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum should be completed early in 2008. An opening ceremony is scheduled for March 15, 2008.