United States Customshouse (Providence, Rhode Island) facts for kids
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U.S. Customshouse
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Rhode Island
Location in the United States
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| Location | Providence, Rhode Island |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1855 |
| Architect | Ammi B. Young |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| Part of | Customhouse Historic District (ID75000058) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000005 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 13, 1972 |
| Designated CP | February 20, 1975 |
The U.S. Customshouse is a very old and important building in Providence, Rhode Island. It's located at 24 Weybosset Street. A customshouse is a place where government officials collect taxes on goods brought into the country. This building was constructed between 1855 and 1857. It was designed by a famous architect named Ammi B. Young.
The U.S. Customshouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. This means it's recognized as a special place worth protecting. In 1992, the State of Rhode Island bought the building. They turned it into offices for the State Courts System. After a big renovation, it opened as the John E. Fogarty Judicial Complex.
A Look Back: The Customshouse Story
This impressive building was finished in 1857. It cost over $200,000 to build, which was a lot of money back then! It was made from strong granite stone from Quincy, Massachusetts. The building has three stories and a cool metal dome on top. Its corners are decorated, and there are special ledges between each floor.
When it first opened, the Customshouse was a busy place. It held many important federal offices. These included the city's main post office and the Federal District Court. The Internal Revenue Service, which collects taxes, also had offices there. Plus, the Collector of Customs and the Steamboat Inspector worked in the building.
The federal offices stayed in the Customshouse until 1909. Then, a new, bigger Federal Building was built nearby. The Customshouse was empty for a while. But in 1921, the U.S. Customs office and other agencies moved back in. They needed more space.
The federal government used the building for another 70 years. In 1989, they moved out again. Different businesses thought about using the building. Finally, the State of Rhode Island bought it. They spent $550,000 to fix it up. In 1992, it became the John E. Fogarty Judicial Complex.
The Customshouse is a main part of the Customhouse Historic District. This district includes eight other commercial buildings. These buildings show how Providence grew as a business center in the 1800s. The Customshouse Historic District is also part of the larger Downtown Providence Historic District.
Gallery
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A view of the building published in 1891
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The back of the building in 2016
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The building from Weybosset Street in 2017
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