The Customhouse and Post Office in Washington, D.C. was a significant building that served as a hub for the city's commerce and communication. It was located on the corner of 1st and Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
The building was designed by architect Robert Mills and took two years to complete, with a total cost of $1 million. The Customhouse and Post Office was officially opened on November 6, 1839.
The building played a crucial role in the city's postal system, with the first mail bag being sent from the Customhouse to the Post Office on the same day of its opening. This marked the beginning of a new era in communication for the city.
Facts
The Georgetown Custom House and Post Office is a remarkable building with a rich history. It was built in a Barryesque palace design, which was replicated elsewhere, such as in Galena, Illinois.
The building's design features a five-bay, two-story layout with granite window lintels, sills, and trim. It also has projecting granite string-courses and a rough cut stone water table.
A key element of the building's design is the subtle differentiation between the carved granite trim and the flat granite walls. This attention to detail adds to the building's elegance.
The Georgetown Custom House and Post Office rises from a granite terrace, setting it apart from its neighbors. This unique feature adds to the building's dignified presence.
The building's scale of operation was comparable to that of emerging cities like Chicago and Cleveland, which also received federal buildings in the same decade.
Customhouse and Post Office (DC)
The Customhouse and Post Office in Washington, D.C. is a historic building located at 1221 31st St., NW.
It was designed by Ammi B. Young, the Supervising Architect of the United States Treasury, during 1856-57.
The building was completed in 1858 and features a Renaissance Revival-Italian Palace style architecture.
The construction cost was $55,468, which is a relatively modest amount for a building of its time.
The main block of the building is 61 feet by 46 feet, with additions to the north and east.
The building has a low seamed-metal roof.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, with a significant date of September 10, 1971.
Here's a summary of the building's dimensions:
A small branch post office remains on the first floor of the building, serving the local community.
The building's location is 1221 31st St., NW, Washington, District of Columbia, with coordinates 38°54′21″N77°03′39″W.
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