United States Customhouse (Portland, Maine)
|
U.S. Customhouse
|
|
U.S. Custom House, September 2003
|
|
 
|
|
| Location | 312 Fore St., Portland, Maine |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 43°39′26″N 70°15′5″W / 43.65722°N 70.25139°WCoordinates: 43°39′26″N 70°15′5″W / 43.65722°N 70.25139°W |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1868 |
| Architect | Mullett, Alfred B. |
| Architectural style | Renaissance, French Renaissance |
| Part of | Portland Waterfront (#74000353) |
| NRHP Reference # | 73000128 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | May 17, 1973 |
| Designated CP | May 2, 1974 |
The United States Custom House is a historic custom house at 312 Fore Street in downtown Portland, Maine. It was built from 1867-1872 to house offices of the United States Customs Service, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
Located near Portland's waterfront, the U.S. Custom House is a testament to the city's maritime history. It was built to accommodate the city's growing customs business, which, by 1866, was collecting $900,000 annually in customs duties - making Portland one of the most significant seaports in the country. The building is typical of the notable designs completed under the direction of Alfred B. Mullett, Supervising Architect of the Treasury from 1865 to 1874. Constructed between 1867 and 1872, the U.S. Custom House combines elements of the Second Empire and Renaissance Revival styles. The need for the new U.S. Custom House was exacerbated by the Great Fire of July 4, 1866. The fire destroyed the Exchange Building—which had previously housed the customs office, post office and courts—as well as 1,800 other buildings in the center of the city.
Although federal funds for the construction of buildings were limited during the post-Civil War period, the importance of maintaining Portland's customs business and rebuilding the city mandated the construction of the new government facility. Plans for designing the new U.S. Custom House were completed in 1866. Mullett was commissioned to design the new building, as well as a new post office and courthouse (no longer extant). Construction took five years to complete amid delays in obtaining granite for the upper stories.
The U.S. Custom House is the best remaining example of Mullett's work in the state of Maine and continued to serve its original function until U.S. Customs and Border Protection moved out in 2012. A major renovation was completed in 2013 and the building now houses several other federal agencies. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
...
Wikipedia