Boston Custom House facts for kids
The Custom House in Boston, Massachusetts, is a famous building with a long history. It was first set up in the 1600s to collect taxes on goods coming into the city by ship. Over the years, it moved to different spots near the waterfront.
The building most people know today was finished in 1849. It was built by the U.S. government in a grand, old-fashioned style. Later, in 1915, a tall tower was added, making it a standout landmark. The Custom House is now recognized as an important historical place, joining the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and becoming a Boston Landmark in 1986. Today, it's a popular hotel where people can stay and enjoy its history.
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A Look Back at the Custom House
For hundreds of years, Boston has had a Custom House. These buildings were where officials collected "customs," which are taxes on things brought into the country. This helped the government earn money.
The Custom House moved several times before finding its permanent home. In the late 1600s, it was on Richmond Street and Ann Street. Later, around 1770, it was on King Street. This was the location during the famous Boston Massacre. You can even see the Custom House in Paul Revere's famous picture of the event!
After the American Revolution, the Custom House stayed on State Street. A famous American writer, Nathaniel Hawthorne, even worked there in the 1830s.
Building the Famous Custom House
The U.S. government bought the land for the current Custom House on State Street in 1837. President Andrew Jackson approved its construction. The building was finished in 1849 and cost about $1.076 million, which was a huge amount of money back then!
The architect, Ammi B. Young, designed the building in a Neoclassical style. This means it looked like ancient Greek and Roman buildings. It was shaped like a cross and had a Roman dome on top.
One of the most impressive features was its 36 huge columns. Each column was carved from a single piece of granite from Quincy, Massachusetts. They weighed about 42 tons each and stood 32 feet (9.7 meters) tall! Inside, the main hall, called the rotunda, had a beautiful skylight dome.
The entire building sits on land that was once part of the harbor. To make sure it was stable, 3,000 wooden piles were driven deep into the ground until they hit solid rock. In the past, ships at Long Wharf would dock right next to the Custom House. This made it easy for officials to check and record all the cargo coming in.
Adding the Iconic Tower
By 1905, Boston's shipping business had grown a lot, and the Custom House needed more space. So, between 1913 and 1915, architects Peabody and Stearns added a massive tower to the original building.
This new tower was 496 feet (151 meters) tall! It became the tallest building in both Boston and all of New England. It held this record for almost 50 years until the Prudential Tower was built in 1964.
The Custom House Today
In 1986, the customs officials moved to a new building in Boston's West End. The historic Custom House on State Street was then empty for 14 years.
However, in 1997, it got a new life! It was turned into a beautiful 84-room hotel by Marriott Vacation Club International. Today, people can stay in this historic building and enjoy its amazing architecture and views of Boston.
Images for kids
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Custom House, Custom House St., 1835
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Custom House, India St., Boston, ca.1851; engraving by Alonzo Hartwell
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Overview of Boston's Financial District and harbor, showing the Custom House, next to State Street Block (Boston), between Long Wharf and India Wharf, 1870
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Overview of Boston's Financial District, showing the Custom House, India St., 1899
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Cross-section of the 1837 design of the Custom House.
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Custom House, circa 1905.
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