The three-story monumental granite building is 234 feet (71 m) long and 179 feet (55 m) deep. It includes a basement, sub-basement and attic level, with 16-foot (4.9 m) ceilings at the basement levels and 10-foot (3.0 m) thick foundation walls, which are surrounded by a 25-foot (7.6 m) deep dry moat for light and ventilation. The basement connects to a tunnel under 8th Street that was used for the delivery of mail to the post office. The basement material is red Missouri granite, while the upper floors are gray granite from Hurricane Island, Maine, between 3 feet (0.91 m) and 4 feet (1.2 m) in thickness. The building surrounds a skylit inner courtyard, 48 feet (15 m) by 55 feet (17 m).[5]
High ceilings predominate in the main structure, with first floor ceilings at 26 feet (7.9 m) and second and third floors at 22 feet (6.7 m). Interior structure is a mixture of wrought and cast iron, supporting arched brick floors in a system that was referred to at the time of construction as "fireproof." The building's windows were provided with fireproof shutters.[5]
The principal facade is the southern, along Olive Street, which features an iron mansard dome. Each street elevation features a central pavilion which in turn bears a portico. The Olive Street elevation's pediment is ornamented by the 1877 sculpture "America at War and America at Peace" by Daniel Chester French, his first major commission. Double-hung windows are set in cast iron frames throughout the building. Cast iron trim and molding frames interior sides of windows and doors. Interior detailing was extensive, with art glass panels, mosaic tile floors and bronze door knobs imprinted with the Seal of the United States. Thirty offices on the second, third and fourth floors featured red Bologna marble fireplace mantels.[5]
Photo taken from the south-east corner of the Old Post Office in St. Louis, Missouri. The photo shows the principal facade along Olive Street.
Historyedit
The Customhouse and Post Office was constructed under the supervision of architect James G, Hill and construction superintendent Thomas Walsh, for a total cost of $5,686,854.68. The third floor of building was occupied by the U.S District Court until 1935, when it moved to new quarters at 12th and Market streets. The Post Office remained until 1970, occupying the main basement and the first floor. A number of Federal agencies were housed on the fourth floor.[5]
^"The St. Louis Old Post Office and Custom House", Your Missouri Courts
^ abcdeSnell, Charles W. (February 17, 1970). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination: Old Post Office". National Park WService. Retrieved April 27, 2009.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Old Post Office (St. Louis, Missouri).
Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. MO-1195, "Post Office & Customs House, Ninth & Locust, Eighth & Olive Streets, Saint Louis, Independent City, MO", 13 photos, 9 data pages, 1 photo caption page
Photographs of the Customhouse and Post Office, St. Louis at the National Park Service's NRHP database
December 04, 2023
united, states, customhouse, post, office, louis, missouri, custom, house, post, office, court, house, olive, street, downtown, louis, missouri, united, states, custom, house, post, officeu, national, register, historic, placesu, national, historic, landmarkst. The U S Custom House and Post Office is a court house at 815 Olive Street in downtown St Louis Missouri United States Custom House and Post OfficeU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S National Historic LandmarkSt Louis LandmarkShow map of St LouisShow map of MissouriShow map of the United StatesLocation815 Olive St St Louis MissouriCoordinates38 37 44 N 90 11 34 W 38 62889 N 90 19278 W 38 62889 90 19278Built1873 1884ArchitectAlfred Bult MullettArchitectural styleSecond EmpireNRHP reference No 68000053Significant datesAdded to NRHPNovember 22 1968 1 Designated NHLDecember 30 1970 2 It was designed by architects Alfred B Mullett William Appleton Potter and James G Hill 3 and was constructed between 1873 and 1884 2 Located at the intersection of Eighth and Olive Streets it is one of four surviving Federal office buildings designed by Mullett The others are the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington D C the Century Post Office in Raleigh N C 4 and the U S Custom House in Portland Me It is in the Second Empire architectural style popular in the post Civil War era 2 Mullett s other Second Empire buildings in Boston Cincinnati New York City and Philadelphia have been demolished 5 Contents 1 Description 2 History 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDescription editThe three story monumental granite building is 234 feet 71 m long and 179 feet 55 m deep It includes a basement sub basement and attic level with 16 foot 4 9 m ceilings at the basement levels and 10 foot 3 0 m thick foundation walls which are surrounded by a 25 foot 7 6 m deep dry moat for light and ventilation The basement connects to a tunnel under 8th Street that was used for the delivery of mail to the post office The basement material is red Missouri granite while the upper floors are gray granite from Hurricane Island Maine between 3 feet 0 91 m and 4 feet 1 2 m in thickness The building surrounds a skylit inner courtyard 48 feet 15 m by 55 feet 17 m 5 High ceilings predominate in the main structure with first floor ceilings at 26 feet 7 9 m and second and third floors at 22 feet 6 7 m Interior structure is a mixture of wrought and cast iron supporting arched brick floors in a system that was referred to at the time of construction as fireproof The building s windows were provided with fireproof shutters 5 The principal facade is the southern along Olive Street which features an iron mansard dome Each street elevation features a central pavilion which in turn bears a portico The Olive Street elevation s pediment is ornamented by the 1877 sculpture America at War and America at Peace by Daniel Chester French his first major commission Double hung windows are set in cast iron frames throughout the building Cast iron trim and molding frames interior sides of windows and doors Interior detailing was extensive with art glass panels mosaic tile floors and bronze door knobs imprinted with the Seal of the United States Thirty offices on the second third and fourth floors featured red Bologna marble fireplace mantels 5 nbsp Photo taken from the south east corner of the Old Post Office in St Louis Missouri The photo shows the principal facade along Olive Street History editThe Customhouse and Post Office was constructed under the supervision of architect James G Hill and construction superintendent Thomas Walsh for a total cost of 5 686 854 68 The third floor of building was occupied by the U S District Court until 1935 when it moved to new quarters at 12th and Market streets The Post Office remained until 1970 occupying the main basement and the first floor A number of Federal agencies were housed on the fourth floor 5 nbsp The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri met at this courthouse until 1935 and the U S Circuit Court that district met here until that court was abolished in 1912 The U S Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit met here from 1891 until 1935 3 It was transferred from the U S General Services Administration to the State of Missouri through the Federal Historic Surplus Property Program in September 2004 2 It is currently a mixed use facility serving federal state and private purposes The building was to the downtown campus for Webster University until the campus was relocated to the adjacent Arcade Building upon the completion of its renovation in late 2015 3 Soon after Lindenwood University announced it would relocate its downtown campus to Webster University s former space The Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District also occupies the building 6 See also editNational Register of Historic Places listings in Downtown and Downtown West St Louis List of National Historic Landmarks in MissouriReferences edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service April 15 2008 a b c d United States Customhouse And Post Office St Louis National Historic Landmark summary listing National Park Service Archived from the original on March 1 2009 Retrieved June 18 2008 a b c St Louis Missouri 1884 Federal Judicial Center The St Louis Old Post Office and Custom House Your Missouri Courts a b c d e Snell Charles W February 17 1970 National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Old Post Office National Park WService Retrieved April 27 2009 Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Old Post Office St Louis Missouri Historic American Buildings Survey HABS No MO 1195 Post Office amp Customs House Ninth amp Locust Eighth amp Olive Streets Saint Louis Independent City MO 13 photos 9 data pages 1 photo caption page Photographs of the Customhouse and Post Office St Louis at the National Park Service s NRHP database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title United States Customhouse and Post Office St Louis Missouri amp oldid 1169589713, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
