Gasconade County, a part of the Louisiana Purchase of 1804 was created by an act of the Missouri Territorial Legislature on November 25th, 1820. At that time and in 1821 when Missouri was admitted as the 24th state, Gasconade County, was one of only 25 Missouri counties and one of the largest consisting of a large part of the southern half of Missouri. The present Gasconade County, slightly smaller than the average Missouri county was established by the legislature in 1869.

Gasconade County, a third class county, is approximately 15 miles in width, 36 miles in length, and consists of 510 square miles or 325,400 acres.The first settlers came to the area of what is now Gasconade County in about 1812. The highest point in the county is Canaan with an elevation of 1047 ft. The largest town in the county is Hermann. Other towns are Owensville, Bland, Rosebud, Gasconade, and Morrison.

The first county seat was located in Gasconade City, near the mouth of the Gasconade River, but due to frequent flooding was moved to Bartonville, also on the Gasconade River and what is now part of Osage County. In 1830, also due to flooding it was moved to higher elevations at Mt. Sterling where it remained until 1842 when by a county wide vote it was moved to Hermann.

Daniel M. Boone, son of the famous pioneer Daniel Boone, was appointed one of the Commissioners of the Territorial Legislature in December, 1820, to locate the "most suitable place for the erection of a courthouse and jail in the County of Gasconade." It was this commission that located the county seat at Gasconade City. Daniel M. Boone also served as one of the first justices of the Gasconade County Court.

The present courthouse is the second building on the same site to serve as the courthouse. The first, a square two story brick building with a hip roof, cost $3,000.00 and was paid for by the City of Hermann. The building was used until 1896 when it was razed to make a site for the present building.

The present courthouse building, a gift to the county from a local Hermann merchant, Charles D. Eitzen, was built 1896-1898 and is probably the only privately gifted courthouse in the United States. His gift consisted of appx. $48,000.00. A large portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Eitzen hangs in the Circuit Court room on the second floor. On February 3rd, 1905, the building was heavily damaged by fire, as a result of which the entire dome, the roof, and a large portion of the second floor were destroyed.

The building repairs were completed in December, 1905, but because of financial consideration, the dome was not reconstructed to the original specifications. The building remains in almost its original design and construction with only a few minor alterations necessary for more efficient usage and continues to house most of the county offices. The building is now undergoing restoration under a long range master restoration plan.