Editing Shelby County, Tennessee (section)

===Shelby County Courthouse===
The Shelby County Courthouse, in Memphis on Adams Avenue between North 2nd and North 3rd streets, was designed by [[James Gamble Rogers]] and completed in 1909. This [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassical]] pile features a long portico topped by a cornice supported by massive [[Ionic column]]s. The ambitious [[architectural sculpture|sculptural]] program designed by [[J. Massey Rhind]] includes the pediment groups, ''[[Canon Law]], [[Roman Law]], [[Statutory Law]], [[Civil law (common law)|Civil Law]]'' and ''[[Criminal Law]]''. Female allegorical figures can be found on the north facade cornice representing ''Integrity, Courage, Mercy, Temperance, Prudence'' and ''Learning.''  Flanking the main entrances are over-life-sized seated figures embodying ''Wisdom, Justice, Liberty, Authority, Peace'' and ''Prosperity.''

It is, by far, the state's largest courthouse. The courthouse was featured in the movie [[The Silence of the Lambs (film)|''The Silence of the Lambs'']] as the place where [[Hannibal Lecter|Dr. Hannibal Lecter]] was held and escapes custody.

<gallery mode="packed">
JMR-Memphis1.jpg|Justice
JMR-Memphis4.jpg|Authority
JMRMemphis11.jpg|Wisdom
</gallery>

The courthouse is included in the [[Adams Avenue Historic District]], listed on the National Register of Historic Places.<ref name="nrhpdoc-Adams">{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=80004481}}|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Adams Avenue Historic District|author=Herbert L. Harper|date=January 1980|publisher=[[National Park Service]]|access-date=May 17, 2017}} With {{NRHP url|id=80004481|photos=y|title=eight photos from 1979, including #6,#7 showing Shelby County Courthouse}}.</ref>