Old Post Office (Albuquerque, New Mexico) facts for kids
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Old Post Office
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The Old Post Office
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| Location | 123 4th St. Albuquerque, New Mexico |
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| Built | 1908 |
| Architect | James Knox Taylor |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002544 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 17, 1980 |
The Old Post Office is the oldest building built by the United States government that is still standing in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is located in downtown Albuquerque. This building was designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. It was built in 1908. The architect who oversaw the project was James Knox Taylor.
When it first opened, many different government offices were in the Post Office building. But it quickly became too small. Because of this, a larger building, the Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, was built next door in 1930. The post office stayed in the older building until 1972. Today, the inside of the Old Post Office has been changed. It is now home to the Amy Biehl Charter High School.
The Old Post Office was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it is an important historical site. It is part of a group of federal buildings in Albuquerque. This group includes the U.S. Courthouse (built in 1930) and the Chavez Federal Building (built in 1965).
Contents
History of the Old Post Office
Why Albuquerque Needed a New Post Office
In 1907, Albuquerque's post office became very busy. It made over $40,000 in income. This meant it was big enough to be a "first post office" class city. So, the city decided to build a new, larger facility.
Building the Post Office
Construction on the new building began soon after. The main architect for the project was James Knox Taylor. The building ended up costing more than expected. It cost twice the original plan of $100,000. The company that built it, Anders Anson, even went out of business because of changes to the building plans.
Growing Pains and Changes
Albuquerque grew very quickly. Because of this fast growth, the new Post Office building was soon too small. It couldn't meet the needs of the Post Office, courts, and other offices. In 1932, an extra part was added to the building. Then, in 1930, the much bigger Federal Building was built nearby.
Over the years, the Old Post Office building has been changed many times. Its spaces were updated to fit different groups using it. The Post Office moved out of this building in 1972. This happened when the new Dennis Chavez Federal Building was built, which included a new post office. The first floor of the Old Post Office was greatly changed to create more office space.
What the Building Looks Like
The outside of the original building from 1908 and the part added in 1932 can be seen from the east, south, and west sides. The north side of the 1908 building is also visible. It faces a parking area.
At first glance, the building looks like one single structure. But there are clear signs where the 1932 addition begins. For example, the roof color changes slightly where the new roof connects. The 1932 addition is also set back a little. The steps at the south entrance are quite different. Also, the decorative wooden ends under the roof have different patterns on the two parts of the building.
Both the old and new parts of the building have a base made of limestone. The walls are covered in brown stucco. Under the roof, you can see large, decorative wooden ends. The roof itself is made of red clay tiles. The windows and iron balconies from the 1908 building were copied for the 1932 addition.
