United States Customhouse (Denver) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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U.S. Customhouse
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U.S. Customhouse, March 2009
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 Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Location | 721 19th St., Denver, Colorado |
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| Area | 2.4 acres (0.97 ha) |
| Built | 1931 |
| Architect | Wetmore, James; Buell, Temple H. |
| Architectural style | Renaissance, Italian Renaissance Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000594 |
| Added to NRHP | October 16, 1979 |
The Federal Building and United States Custom House in Denver, Colorado, is a very old and important building. It's a place where federal government offices are located, and it also serves as a courthouse. This means that important legal cases for the United States government are handled here. It's a key part of Denver's history and architecture.
Contents
History of the Denver Federal Building
A Home for Government Work
The Federal Building and U.S. Custom House is one of four important federal buildings in downtown Denver. These buildings are all close to each other and help the government do its work. The land for this building was bought between 1928 and 1930. Before that, it was the site of the East Denver High School.
This new building was needed because Denver's old custom house, built in 1892, was too small. A custom house is where officials collect taxes on goods coming into the country.
Building with Local Materials
The first part of the building was finished in 1931. The plans were made by the U.S. Treasury's Office of the Supervising Architect, led by James A. Wetmore. This building, along with the nearby Byron White U.S. Courthouse, uses a special type of stone called Colorado Yule marble. This same marble was used for famous landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Originally, the builders thought about using a less expensive stone called Indiana limestone. But lawmakers from Colorado wanted to use local materials. So, they chose the beautiful Colorado Yule marble. The building was completed in May 1931 and cost about $1.26 million.
Expanding the Building in 1937
In 1937, the building was made much larger with an addition that almost doubled its size. Denver architects Temple Hoyne Buell and G. Meredith Musick designed this new part. Again, there was a discussion about what stone to use. People wanted the new part to match the original building. So, Colorado Yule marble was chosen again instead of Georgia marble. This also helped the economy in Colorado.
Over the years, many different government groups used the building. The main group was the U.S. Customs Service, which collected a lot of money in taxes. In 1957, the Customs Service moved to a new location. Today, the main tenant is the United States bankruptcy court, which helps people and businesses with financial problems. The building has been recognized as a historic place since 1979.
Important Events at the Building
During the 1960s and 1970s, the area around the courthouse was often used for public protests. In 1975, a small explosion happened in a restroom on the first floor. Luckily, the building was not badly damaged.
- 1931: The original building was finished.
- 1937: A large addition was built, making the building much bigger.
- 1979: The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Architecture of the Custom House
A Grand Design Style
The Federal Building and U.S. Custom House has five stories and is a great example of Second Renaissance Revival architecture. This style is known for its grand, classic look. You can see this in the arched windows and doors on the first floor, the detailed decorative edges (called cornices), and how the building looks wide and strong.
The building has a strong steel frame and a flat roof. The bottom part of the building is covered in granite stone. The main parts of the building that face the streets are covered in smooth Colorado Yule marble. The top floor is set back a bit and is covered in brick. The parts of the building facing the inner courtyard are also brick.
Special Details and Materials
Marble blocks at the corners, called quoins, show where the marble changes to brick. Decorative terra-cotta (a type of baked clay) is used for a band above the first floor and for other decorations between the windows. Above the main entrance, there are fancy terra-cotta designs.
The building has an E-shape with a courtyard in the middle. The windows are placed evenly to make the building look balanced. The windows on the first floor and the main entrance have arched tops. Between the windows on the upper floors, you can see designs of eagles and shields. These designs show that it's a federal government building.
The Main Entrance
The main entrance on Nineteenth Street is the most important part of the outside. It used to have bronze doors, but these were changed to aluminum doors in 1972. Above the doorway, a terra-cotta eagle sits on top of a rounded window. Columns in the Tuscan order style stand on each side of the entrance. They support a decorative piece with the building's name on it.
Inside the Building
When you step inside the lobby, you'll see polished Colorado Yule marble on the lower parts of the walls and around the elevators. Some of the original light fixtures are still there, with their oval glass domes. The beautiful bronze and glass doors between the entrance area and the lobby have been carefully fixed up.
There are staircases with marble steps at each end of the hallways. Each floor of the building has the same layout, with offices lining the corridors. The lower parts of the walls and the baseboards are all marble. Even the bathroom walls in the older part of the building are marble.
The 1937 addition made the building much larger, and the central courtyard became less visible from the street. While the offices have been changed over time, the main hallways and lobby areas still look much like they did when the building was first built.
Building Facts
- Location: 721 Nineteenth Street, Denver
- Architects: James A. Wetmore; Temple H. Buell with G. Meredith Musick
- Built: 1930-1931 (original); 1937 (addition)
- Style: Second Renaissance Revival
- Important Features: Classic marble and terra-cotta outside; Bronze entry doors; Marble walls and oak wood inside.
