Petersburg City Hall facts for kids
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Petersburg City Hall
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Petersburg City Hall, HABS Photo, Summer 1981
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 135 N. Union St., Petersburg, Virginia |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1856-1859, 1908-1910 |
| Architect | Ammi B. Young |
| Architectural style | Renaissance, Italian Renaissance Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 78003185 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 16, 1978 |
The Petersburg City Hall is a very old and important building in Petersburg, Virginia. It was designed by a famous architect named Ammi B. Young. This building was first built between 1856 and 1859.
It wasn't always a city hall! It started out as the U.S. Customs House and Post Office. Today, it's where the city government works to help the people of Petersburg.
Contents
Discovering Petersburg City Hall's Design
Petersburg City Hall is a three-story building made of brick. It has a special look called the Italian Renaissance Revival style. This means its design was inspired by beautiful old buildings from Italy.
The outside of the building is covered in granite, which is a very strong type of stone. The building is about 46 feet wide and 100 feet deep. It was made even bigger between 1908 and 1910.
Who Designed This Historic Building?
The building was designed by Ammi B. Young. He was the first main architect for the United States Treasury. Construction started in 1856 and finished in 1859. It cost about $84,664.88 to build back then.
Even though it wasn't fully finished, people started using the building in September 1858. The original plan was for only two stories. But a third story was added later for the Customs House workers.
Inside the City Hall: A Look Around
The inside of the building has changed a lot over the years. Today, the first floor is a big open space. This is where people can go to get help from the city.
The second and third floors are divided into many offices. These offices are where city workers do their jobs. Some parts, like the columns and staircases, are still the original ones from when the building was first built.
Petersburg City Hall Through the Years
This building has had many important jobs over time. It was mainly used as a post office and a custom house. A custom house is where taxes are collected on goods that come into the country.
A Role in the Civil War
During the American Civil War, this building played a part in history. It was used as the main office for the Confederate Army in the area.
Becoming Petersburg's City Hall
In 1936, the Post Office moved to a new place. After that, the building was updated as part of a big project called the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was a program that helped create jobs during a tough economic time.
In 1938, the building officially became Petersburg's City Hall. It has been serving the city in this way ever since.
The Petersburg City Hall is located in the Petersburg Courthouse Historic District. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means it's recognized as a very important historic site.
