Pawnee City Hall is the home of most government functions in Pawnee. Some notable departments are the Parks and Recreation Department, Sewage Department, and Fire Department. It is also the workplace of Leslie Knope, Ron Swanson, Paul Iaresco, and Kyle. It features a private Executive Dining Room. Pawnee City Hall is located at:
- 100 State Street
Pawnee, Indiana 47998
Murals of Pioneer Hall[]
Every town has its own unique history, and Pawnee's is full of both pride and shame. Mostly shame. But some pride. But really: shame. The large murals that line the walls of Pioneer Hall depict some of the most famous and interesting moments in our town's past, and are well worth checking out as works of art -- even if they are also by any standard horrifying at a level it is difficult to comprehend.
Pioneer Hall is a hallway constructed in 1935 located in City Hall that features ten murals depicting the town's history. The murals were painted by the employees in the 1930s. The following are the most notable Murals.
Sunday Boxing[]
For a while in the 1880s, most of the law enforcement officials in Pawnee either quit or died of self-inflicted gunshot wounds while drunk. As a result, things were pretty wild. Spontaneous bare-knuckle fighting rings spread throughout the town, including this one, in which the Reverend Bradley took on all comers after the Sunday Sermon. Here, the Reverend takes on Anna Beth Stevenson, who had won her previous 11 bouts against the men of the town. The streak came to an end on this punch, though Stevenson won the rematch a week later on a 60-round TKO.
At first glance, it is horrifying, but on second glance, it is even more disturbing. One is tempted to assume the fighting woman was a prostitute or thief, when in fact she was Pawnee's first female high school graduate. This mural was originally entitled "A Lively Fisting." The name was changed for obvious reasons.
The Trial of Chief Wamapo[]
Painted in 1936, this mural depicts the trial of Chief Wamapo, who was accused of "being Indian." Tragically, in 1834 that was a crime punishable by death.
Despite the proximity of the cannon to Wamapo's body, the cavalry missed him on their first two shots. On the third shot, they got lucky and hit his left shin. He died several years later of old age.
Trading Post[]
Pawnee would never have survived if settlers hadn't figured out ways to peacefully co-exist with their Native American neighbors. They would come together at "trading posts" to exchange food and goods. Sort of like a flea market, with a high risk of intentional small pox.
This baby grew up to be Anne Beth Stevenson, the woman being punched by the man in "Sunday Boxing." The Wamapoke tribe she was given to gave her the name "Lucky Devil."
Pawnee Zoo[]
The muralist chose to depict a rather disturbing and isolated event in the history of the zoo: in 1914, a Jewish ornithologist who was headed for the Mississippi River took a wrong turn, and wandered into Pawnee looking for directions. The mayor at the time had never seen a Jewish person before, and, believing him to be some kind of rare alien creature, placed him in the zoo's abandoned otter cage.
A few days later, the residents of Pawnee received confirmation that this was merely a human being with a different heritage, and let him out with great apologies. The mayor even invited the man to settle in Pawnee for good, an offer which the man politely declined.
Spirit of Pawnee[]
The Native Americans are being pushed to the side, the Irish are trying to sell liquor, the women are dumping it out, and the Native Americans are drinking it. The Chinese are laughing at their misfortune. Meanwhile, they’re learning Western ways: they’ve dropped their chopsticks, and they’re eating hamburgers with a fork and a knife. In "The Camel", City Hall decides to paint over the "Spirit of Pawnee" because it has been repeatedly vandalized due to its racist undertones. However, all of the departments' murals are horrible and the "Spirit of Pawnee" mural is instead renamed to "The Diversity Express".
Turnbill Mansion Wedding[]
In 1867, the progressive Reverend Turnbill officiated a wedding between a white woman and a Wamapoke Indian chief. The secret ceremony was beautiful and romantic. But then word got out and the reception was a bloodbath. Fortunately, there were two survivors. Unfortunately, they were both horses.
Traveling Magician[]
A traveling magician came through town one time and he pulled a rabbit out of a hat, and the mob burned him at the stake for being a witch. The year was 1973.
When Eagleton Abandoned Pawnee[]
Pawnee City Hall Directory[]
Basement[]
- Printing Services
- Mailroom
- Records Management
- Public Works Construction
- Training Room
- Employee Lounge
- Conference Rooms
- Traffic Management Center
First Floor[]
- Parks and Recreation Department
- Treasury
- Public Works Permits
- Economic Development
- Human Resources
- Health Department
Second Floor[]
- Human Services
- City Clerk
- Mayor & City Council
- City Manager
- Council Chambers
- Fire & Police Retirement System
Third Floor[]
- Midwest National Parks Service (begining in 2014)
- Finance
Fourth Floor[]
The Fourth Floor is the most depressing floor, and most employees avoid going there completely. There was once a popcorn machine placed in it but the wrong oil was used and everyone had to get throat surgery.
- Department of Motor Vehicles
- Divorce Court
- Probation Offices
- Marriage Licenses
Pawnee Courthouse[]
The Pawnee Courthouse is where Leslie Knope once attended an ethics committee hearing, led by Chris Traeger, because of her relationship with Ben Wyatt.
Departments[]
- Main article: Departments
Pawnee City Hall is the home to most of the city's governmental Departments, including (but not limited to) Parks and Recreation, Health, and Public Works.