United States Custom House (Baltimore) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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U.S. Custom House
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Baltimore Custom House
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 Location in Baltimore
Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | 40 S. Gay St., Baltimore, Maryland |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1903 |
| Architect | Hornblower & Marshall |
| Architectural style | Beaux-arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 74002217 |
| Added to NRHP | February 15, 1974 |
The U.S. Custom House in Baltimore, Maryland, is a grand old building. It was built a long time ago, between 1903 and 1907. This building was used to collect taxes on goods coming into the country. It's a great example of a building style called Beaux-Arts, which was popular for important public buildings.
The U.S. Custom House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. This means it's a special place worth protecting because of its history and design.
Contents
The Story of the Custom House
Baltimore's Busy Port History
In the 1700s and 1800s, Baltimore was a very important port city in the United States. Many ships came and went, bringing goods from all over the world. To keep track of these goods and collect taxes on them, the government created the United States Customs Service in 1789. Baltimore was one of the first cities to have a customs office.
The first custom house in Baltimore was a rented space in a large building called the Merchants' Exchange Building. This building was huge for its time, with a big dome. It was a symbol of how important trade was to Baltimore. Many different government offices, like the Post Office and a bank, were also in this building.
Designing a New Custom House
By 1900, the government decided Baltimore needed a brand new, bigger custom house. They held a competition to find the best design. A firm from Washington, D.C. called Hornblower and Marshall won the competition. Their plan was to build the new Custom House right where the old Merchants' Exchange Building stood.
Building Through Challenges
Construction on the new Custom House began in 1903. But in 1904, a huge fire swept through downtown Baltimore. Over 1,500 buildings were destroyed! The Custom House was still being built, and it was badly damaged. Many of the large granite blocks used for the walls cracked from the intense heat. Workers had to remove and replace them, which was difficult and expensive.
Even with this big setback, construction continued. The building was finally finished and ready for use at the end of 1907. When it was done, people praised it as a beautiful and well-made building. It showed off the dignity and importance of the federal government.
Amazing Architecture and Art
A Grand Design
The U.S. Custom House is a six-story building, about 92 feet tall. It's designed in the Beaux-Arts style, which means it looks grand and balanced. The architects, Joseph C. Hornblower and John Rush Marshall, learned their skills from famous European schools. They used their knowledge to create this impressive building.
The building is made of steel and strong stone walls, covered with granite from Maryland and North Carolina. The front of the building, facing Gay Street, has a grand entrance. Marble steps lead up to the doors, which are protected by fancy iron gates. There are also cool old-fashioned lamps that look like lanterns from 18th-century ships.
Inside the Custom House
When you step inside, you'll see a beautiful main lobby with a marble floor. There's even a compass design made of brass inlaid in the floor! The walls are covered with colorful marble.
The Call Room Mural
The most amazing room in the Custom House is the Call Room. This is where people used to pay their customs taxes. The room has tall columns and a decorative ceiling. The ceiling has a huge painting called Entering the Harbour. This mural shows ten different types of sailing ships, like whalers and schooners, sailing into a harbor.
The edges of the ceiling and other panels in the room show the history of navigation. They feature over 125 different ships, from ancient Egyptian boats to the huge R.M.S. Mauretania from 1907. All these incredible paintings were done by a famous American artist named Francis Davis Millet. Sadly, Millet died just a few years after finishing these murals. He was one of the many people who perished when the R.M.S. Titanic sank in 1912.
After a big renovation project, the Custom House officially reopened in 1997, looking as grand as ever.
Important Dates for the Custom House
- 1789: The U.S. Customs Service started, and Baltimore became one of its first collection districts.
- 1816-1820: The Merchants' Exchange Building was built, and part of it was used for the Customs Service.
- 1900: Hornblower and Marshall were chosen to design the new Custom House.
- 1903: The first stone of the current Custom House was laid.
- 1904: A huge fire in Baltimore damaged the unfinished building.
- 1907: Construction was completed, and the Custom House opened.
- 1972: The building was named one of America's twelve Historic Custom Houses.
- 1974: The Custom House was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1997: After a big renovation, the Custom House reopened.
- U.S. Custom House, Baltimore City, including undated photo, at Maryland Historical Trust
