Old Federal Building (Sault Ste. Marie) facts for kids
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Federal Building
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 209 E. Portage Avenue Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan |
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| Built | 1909–1910 |
| Architect | James Knox Taylor |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| Part of | Sault Ste. Marie Historic Commercial District (ID100005683) |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000711 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 9, 1977 |
The Old Federal Building in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, is a really old and important building. It's also known as the United States Post Office. This building has been used for many different things since it was built a long time ago. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 9, 1977.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Building
The story of this building starts even before it was built. In 1822, a military base called Fort Brady was set up on this very spot. Soldiers lived and worked there for many years.
From Fort to Public Space
By 1893, the soldiers moved to a new fort. This new location was closer to the famous Soo Locks, which are important for ships. The old fort land was then saved for a new public building. For a while, it was used as a public park or common area.
In 1908, the United States Congress decided to build something new here. They set aside $150,000 for a new Federal Building. This was a lot of money back then!
Building a Landmark
Construction on the Federal Building began in 1909 and finished in 1910. The building was made from strong limestone rock. This stone came all the way from a quarry in Bedford, Indiana.
The design for the building came from James Knox Taylor. He was the main architect for the U.S. Treasury at that time. For many years, the building served as a post office. It was also a courthouse for the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan. The court met there from 1912 until 1941.
New Uses for an Old Building
In 1992, a group called the Sault Foundation for Culture and History bought the building. The government had built a new place for the courts. The foundation turned the old building into the River of History Museum.
This museum was created to share the history of the St. Mary's River system. The river is a very important waterway in the area. On July 1, 2009, the museum moved its exhibits to a new location.
After the museum moved, the building was updated again. By 2010, it was renovated to become office space. It now serves as the City Hall for Sault Ste. Marie.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The Old Federal Building is a large, rectangular building. It has three stories and sits on a raised foundation made of granite. It measures about 64 feet wide and 103 feet long.
Architectural Style
The building is designed in the Renaissance Revival style. This style often uses ideas from old Roman and Greek buildings. The first floor is made of smooth limestone blocks. These blocks have lines carved into them. Above this, there is a decorated band called a frieze.
On the front of the building, the top two floors are made of plain limestone. Tall, fancy columns called Ionic columns run up these two floors. They frame the five main window sections in the middle. There are also parts of the building that stick out slightly on the sides. An ornate border sits at the very top of the front. Above this is a low, flat roof made of tin.
