Chowan County Courthouse was erected in 1767, replacing an earlier wooden structure as the seat of government. Considered the finest Georgian-style courthouse in the United States, it features a Flemish bond brick exterior, whitewashed plaster walls, an English ballast stone floor, and an elliptical apse. The lower floor has a large courtroom flanked by offices, and the second floor consists of a large chamber or ballroom. It is the oldest public building in North Carolina, one of only five colonial courthouses in existence, and the only one still in use. The North Carolina Supreme Court, the local superior court, and other government agencies conduct business there. Restored to its colonial appearance, it is maintained as a museum by Historic Edenton State Historic Site. Its history includes the 1712 establishment of a town on 100 acres at the fork of Queen Anne's Creek with land dedicated for a courthouse, the 1716 construction of a wood frame courthouse at the north end of the Courthouse Green, the 1767 construction of the current courthouse through an act sponsored by Joseph Hewes, the 1971 designation as a National Historic Landmark, the 2001 discovery of the foundation of the 1724 Governor's Council Chamber under the courthouse, and the 2004 completion of its restoration.