Lubbock Post Office and Federal Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lubbock Post Office and Federal Building
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Lubbock Post Office and Federal Building in 2012
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 Lubbock Post Office and Federal Building
Location in Texas
Lubbock Post Office and Federal Building
Location in the United States
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| Location | 800 Broadway, Lubbock, Texas |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1931 |
| Built by | William McDonald Construction Co. |
| Architect | James A. Wetmore |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 95000101 |
| Added to NRHP | February 17, 1995 |
The Lubbock Post Office and Federal Building is a historic building in downtown Lubbock, Texas. It used to be a post office and a federal courthouse. This important building served the community from 1932 to 1968. You can find it at 800 Broadway.
Contents
Building History
How the Building Was Funded
In 1926, a law called the Public Buildings Act was passed. This law helped get money from the government to build new federal buildings. Lubbock, Texas, received funds to construct a new federal courthouse.
Construction and Early Use
Building work started in 1931 and finished in 1932. The total cost was about $4.7 million. The building became home to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. This is a special court that handles federal cases. The court met here until 1968.
Later Years and Abandonment
After 1968, Lubbock County used the building for offices and storage. Sadly, the building was not kept up very well. Because of this, it was left empty in 1998.
Becoming a Historic Site
In 1995, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important places in the United States that are worth saving. In 2011, a group called Preservation Texas listed it as one of the most endangered historic sites in the state. This meant it was at risk of being lost forever.
New Plans for the Building
In 2013, officials in Lubbock decided to sell the building. A company offered $500,000 but later changed their mind. More recently, some new investors offered $425,000 for the building. It is about 28,000 square feet in size. The county accepted their offer. The new owners plan to turn the building into apartments, hotel rooms, restaurants, or office spaces.
Building Design
The Lubbock Post Office and Federal Building has three stories. It was designed in a style called late Classical Revival. This style often features a balanced look and fancy decorations.
The first floor of the building has an outside made of limestone. The second and third floors are made of a light brown brick. This brick was chosen to look like an Italian Renaissance palazzo. A palazzo is a large, grand building, like a palace, found in Italy.
